Some Things to Know About Trucks, Sleep Apnea & Driving in Pearland, TX

• Studies on sleep apnea show that obesity and age increase the risks of sleep apnea.
• Severe sleep apnea is often associated with diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.
• Men more commonly have sleep apnea than women.
• About 6% of the general population has severe sleep apnea (OSA). Different studies show that between 6% and 28% of truckers have severe sleep apneas.
• 2.4 million to 3.9 million of America’s 14 million truckers might have OSA.
• Severe sleep apnea, if untreated, strongly increases the risks of a motor vehicle crash.
• Sleeping position might affect the occurrence of sleep apnea. Sleeping flat on the back triggers more sleep apnea events than sleeping on one’s side.

One sleep study shows that truckers with severe sleep apnea (OSA) have a 7 times greater risk of severe truck accidents than truckers without the disorder. That same study also found that:

* Of 53 truck drivers referred for sleep studies because screenings indicated possible OSA, 33 did not comply with the referral; and
* Sleep studies on the remaining 20 of the 53 truck drivers confirmed OSA in all of them, but only 1 of these drivers complied with treatment of the disorder.

Sleep apnea increases truck drivers’ risks behind the wheel.

• Increased daytime sleepiness and fatigue.
• Falling asleep at the wheel.
• Slowed reaction time.
• Impaired decision-making ability.
• Inability to concentrate or pay attention.

Because of generally increased awareness of the dangers of motor vehicle crashes in those drivers with sleep apnea disorders, truck drivers diagnosed with the disorder have an increased risk of losing their jobs. Tests show that drivers with severe sleep apnea perform about the same on driving tasks as drivers with a blood alcohol content above the legal limit. But studies also show that the experience of older, less healthy drivers provides an edge in avoiding wrecks that younger, healthier, but less experienced drivers might not possess.

Trucking companies don’t want to take chances on injuries and liabilities stemming from sleep apnea-related truck accidents. So the trucking companies take the easy way out and fire, or refuse to hire, responsible truckers who have sought diagnosis and treatment of their fatigue problem. So most truckers avoid diagnosis or treatment of sleep apnea for fear of losing their jobs. Unfortunately, this just increases the risks to everyone driving in Pearland, TX from trucker fatigue.

Even truckers without sleep apnea have increased risks of fatigue. They’re under pressure to drive long hours and meet strict delivery deadlines. Long haul truckers drive many hours on long stretches of monotonous highways and experience elevated risks of “road trance” and resulting truck accidents.

If you suffer a truck accident caused by a fatigued trucker while driving in Pearland, TX, call us for a free legal consultation. Our Pearland, TX truck accident lawyers, Chad Points and Tony Denena, have more than 12 years of experience helping the injured victims of truck accidents. We have extensive knowledge of the legal requirements involved in truck accident cases revolving around the issue of trucker fatigue. We could help you win fair financial compensation for your injuries caused by the problem of trucker fatigue or sleep apnea.