Truck drivers typically are in a rush, trying to make their run as fast as possible while staying awake for long hours of driving. This can lead to driver fatigue, and it also can cause some truck drivers to turn to drug use.
Two of the top ten causes of truck accidents in Maryland involve legal drugs. Both over-the-counter and prescription drugs are common culprits of crashes, according to an experienced Maryland truck accident attorney.
Over-the-Counter Drugs Can Cause Truck Driver Fatigue
Like anyone else, truck drivers occasionally get sick or have trouble sleeping. It would make sense for anyone, including a truck driver, to resort to over-the-counter medication to help him sleep at night so he will feel rested for the next day of work.
However, those medications don’t always wear off in time for the next full day of driving. Medications that can lead to truck driver fatigue and contribute to a crash include:
- Allergy medication
- Tylenol or Advil PM
- Nighttime cold medicine
Prescription Drug Use May Increase a Truck Driver’s Erratic Behavior
A stressed-out truck driver could be taking anti-depression or anxiety medications, or any number of other drugs that could interfere with his or her driving ability. Numerous prescription drugs warn against driving while on medication, but few people read this fine print or follow it.
If you were injured in a Maryland truck wreck, ask yourself these questions:
- Was the truck driver weaving in the lane?
- Was the driver slowing down or speeding up at odd times?
- Was the driver speeding excessively?
- Was he or she driving erratically?
While numerous factors can affect a person’s driving habits, drug use is a potential suspect for erratic driving. Simple drug tests or lab work can help prove this point, provided they are requested before the drugs are out of the driver’s body.
A skilled Maryland truck accident attorney can help determine whether legal drug use was a factor in the accident that left you injured. For more information, call the experienced truck accident lawyers of Nickelsporn and Lundin at 1-800-875-9700.