Can poor health affect truck driver safety?

If you have ever been driving in the very early a.m. hours, you may have seen big rig trucks on their way to their destinations. You may have also thought to yourself that the drivers of those trucks must spend a good portion of their lives behind the wheel.

In truth, truck drivers practically live in their rigs, so much so that their trucks are typically set up with sleeping quarters and other amenities. But make no mistake, these accommodations are hardly a replacement for a regular room with a bed. And life on the road can take a serious toll on a truck driver’s health.

A recent medical study found that the health risks that plague truck drivers may also be connected to a greater likelihood of being in accidents. According to a university assistant who was involved in the study, truck drivers have a high degree of work-related stress. They are also limited in their ability to get physical exercise as well as healthy meals while traveling. The assistant professor also said that the researchers were surprised to learn how many drivers had high cholesterol and high blood pressure levels.

No one denies that truck drivers work hard for their money, but the facts indicate that the conditions of their jobs can leave them suffering from a variety of maladies.

Drivers who have poor or limited dietary choices and little exercise may be prone to suffer from the symptoms of exhaustion. The study revealed that drivers who reported higher physical exhaustion had a greater chance of being in an accident.

If you or someone in your family are ever in an accident, it is important that an investigation be conducted to determine if the driver was fatigued or otherwise impaired by health issues while driving. An experienced truck accident attorney could assess the circumstances of the accident and help you decide the most appropriate course to take for securing compensation.