How Our St. Louis Driver Fatigue Lawyers Can Help

Your Burger Law truck accident lawyer will be your advocate and fight by your side to get you a full financial recovery. Because of the devastating nature of truck accidents, the resulting injuries, investigation into what caused them and the fight for compensation can be more complex than a standard auto accident. We will handle all of that so you can focus on healing. Part of what our attorneys will do for you is:

• Identify the liable parties — In driver fatigue accidents, the liable party will be the driver and/or the insurance company. If a driver did not follow the hours-of-service regulations or did not pull over when they were sleepy, they are liable. But, according to the groundbreaking, Large Truck Crash Causation Study, pressure from work was the number one reason truck drivers drove fatigued. In those cases, the trucking company may be liable or share fault. Either way, your claim will be made against the same insurance company.
• Prove negligence — There are many things that could indicate that the driver was fatigued and, therefore, negligent. If there were no brake marks at the accident site, it may indicate they did not try to brake, and were therefore asleep. We'll also look at their driving logs. Some trucks have built-in systems that show how long a driver drove for.
• Identify your damages — You are eligible for a range of damages, including:
  • Economic damages, such as lost wages, medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses
  • Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, mental anguish and any scarring or disfigurement
• Prove your damages — By using your medical records, W2s and pay stubs and receipts, we will be able to precisely calculate your economic damages. If your injuries result in permanent disability or require ongoing medical treatment or assistive devices, we will calculate, accounting for inflation, how much future economic damages your injuries cost you. You can keep a journal detailing how your injuries affect your daily life to show non-economic damages. We can also have friends and family take depositions to show how your life has changed.
• Insist on nothing but full compensation — We always try to get a fair settlement in negotiations, but we file a lawsuit at the fist hint of a low offer. Large corporations like trucking companies throw a lot of money at insurance defense lawyers, but we know how to show them the true value of your damages and get you a truly fair financial recovery.

It is difficult for the average person to go up against large, powerful corporations. But Burger Law's St. Louis truck accident lawyers fight back against them every day, and have been for over 30 years. We work on a contingency fee basis. That means we only charge our attorneys fees after you get the full compensation you deserve. Money should never be an obstacle for someone who needs expert legal representation to get the justice and financial security they are owed.

Causes of Driver Fatigue in St. Louis, Missouri

As mentioned, many truck drivers have said that they drove while fatigued because of pressure from their employers. But there are other reasons a truck driver driving through St. Louis may become fatigued:

• You drive during hours when your body is naturally sleepy — The FMCSA reported that a driver's fatigue level was more related to "time of day" than "time on task." Our bodies are naturally drowsy between midnight and 6AM, and 2PM to 4PM. It is important for drivers to get enough sleep beforehand if they are going to drive during those hours.
• Certain medications — Drowsiness can also be a side-effect of certain medications. That is why many prescription and over-the-counter drugs warn against operating heavy machinery after ingesting it.
• Sleep disorders — A truck driver may have an undiagnosed condition that causes them to fall asleep or become drowsy behind the wheel.

Whatever the reason a driver became fatigued in St. Louis, no one has a right to jeopardize your safety and drive when they know they should not.