When most people think about the cause of motor vehicle accidents, the first thing that comes to mind is either the negligence of the driver or the road condition, which is often true. Distracted and drunk driving is a large cause of many preventable vehicle accidents. Likewise, slick roads and heavy weather may cause just as many accidents.
Truckers, while not entirely safe from reckless driving or weather, however, face a unique dilemma. Because of their line of work, accidents caused by trucks can be catastrophic, if not fatal. Yet, many of the accidents caused by truckers are due to the struggles of trucking in itself.
What does that mean? Here’s what you should know:
The mental and physical strain when trucking
Truck drivers have a very intensive job. This may seem strange to many people who believe trucking is a relaxing job where people sit all day and get paid for it. This misconception is often caused because few people spend as much time on the road as truckers and, as a result, don’t realize that truck drivers face a lot of mental and physical difficulties by staying in their line of work.
First off, sitting for hours without stretching has been linked to many health problems such as high blood pressure, reduced blood circulation, excess body fat and diabetes. Truckers likely won’t develop these medical issues early, yet, many truckers never leave their line of work, which can lead to the development of these conditions.
It doesn’t help that truckers also don’t have the time to spare for three meals a day, let alone one hot meal a day, and may have to drive on an empty stomach. Truckers that do eat while driving, not that it’s considered safe, are likely eating high-carb fast foods that may increase the likelihood of developing a serious medical condition.
Then, many truckers don’t have time to sleep long. They’re often held to short deadlines and may have to skip sleeping. A lack of sleep can lead to physical and mental problems such as drowsiness and headaches or depression and insomnia.
Truckers may face strain when they develop mental conditions. Many truckers suffer from depression. This may be a result of the physical strain from the job, but also as a result of constant isolation and their separation from family and friends.
If you were in an accident where a truck hit you, you may need to understand your legal rights to seek out the responsible party for your injuries and losses.
