The Dangers of Driver Fatigue in 18-Wheeler Accidents: Who’s Liable?

Bradford N. Oesch, P.C.
Exhausted truck driver falls asleep behind wheels

Driver fatigue isn’t just about feeling sleepy—it’s a medical and behavioral issue that impairs judgment, slows reaction times, and leads to catastrophic decisions behind the wheel. With trucking, fatigue can come from long hours, tight deadlines, and pressure from employers to stay on the road longer than legally allowed.

As a car accident firm in Houston, Texas, we’ve seen firsthand the devastating toll that 18-wheeler crashes take on everyday drivers. When a fully loaded tractor-trailer barrels down the highway, it’s a machine weighing up to 80,000 pounds. If the person behind the wheel is sleep-deprived or too tired to react, that vehicle becomes a threat to everyone around it.

Here, our attorney at Bradford N. Oesch, P.C. will take a close look at how fatigue contributes to 18-wheeler accidents, who’s legally responsible, and how a car accident attorney can build strong cases for victims and families.

Why Driver Fatigue Is So Dangerous

Fatigue dulls the senses. It affects how well someone pays attention, how quickly they can stop, and whether they can respond in time to prevent a crash. It can also cause microsleep—short bursts of unconsciousness that last only a few seconds but can be fatal at highway speeds.

Unlike alcohol or drugs, fatigue can creep in slowly and without warning. A truck driver might not realize just how tired they are until it’s too late. Research shows that driving after 18-20 hours without sleep is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%—the legal limit in Texas.

In other words, drowsy driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. The difference? It’s often harder to detect and just as deadly.

Federal Rules on Truck Driver Hours

To fight driver fatigue, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) puts limits on how long truck drivers can be on the road. These Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations include:

  • A maximum of 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty

  • A 14-hour limit in total working hours per day, including driving and other tasks

  • 30-minute breaks required after 8 hours of driving

  • A limit of 60 hours over 7 days or 70 hours over 8 days, depending on the schedule

These rules are in place for a reason. But we’ve handled cases where logbooks were falsified, breaks were skipped, or employers pressured drivers to ignore federal guidelines. When a crash happens under those conditions, our job is to find out what went wrong and who’s responsible.

Warning Signs of Fatigue Behind the Wheel

As car accident attorneys, we often work with accident reconstruction experts and investigators to spot clues that fatigue played a role. Some of the most common signs include:

  • The truck didn’t attempt to brake

  • The driver drifted across lanes or ran off the road

  • The driver admitted to feeling tired or falling asleep

  • Logs show long shifts or back-to-back driving days

  • Witnesses observed swerving or erratic behavior

In severe cases, the trucker may have no memory of the crash at all. That’s a strong indicator of fatigue and one we take seriously when building a case.

Who’s Liable When a Fatigued Truck Driver Causes a Crash?

In Texas, liability in 18-wheeler accidents involving fatigue can fall on several parties. While the driver might be the one behind the wheel, they’re not always the only one responsible for putting a tired operator on the road.

The Truck Driver

Drivers have a legal and moral obligation to stop when they’re too tired to drive. If they ignore signs of exhaustion, skip rest breaks, or lie on their logbooks, they can be held directly responsible for the crash. Their actions matter, and we’ll pursue claims against them if their negligence played a role.

The Trucking Company

Employers often push drivers to meet tight schedules. Some go as far as offering bonuses for early deliveries or penalizing late arrivals. When a company creates a culture that puts profits above safety, they can be held liable.

We investigate:

  • Dispatch records

  • Communication logs

  • Company policies on breaks and scheduling

  • Hiring and training practices

If the company hired a driver with a known history of fatigue-related issues or failed to monitor hours, they may share the blame.

The Truck Manufacturer or Maintenance Company

If brake failure, tire blowouts, or steering issues made the crash worse, we’ll look at whether the truck itself contributed to the accident. In some cases, the manufacturer or a third-party maintenance crew might have cut corners, making a tired driver even more dangerous.

Cargo Loaders

An overloaded or improperly loaded truck can be much harder to control. If a fatigued driver loses control because of shifting cargo or excess weight, the company that loaded the truck might also be liable.

How We Prove Fatigue Played a Role

Establishing that fatigue caused or contributed to an accident takes more than guesswork. That’s why we bring in experts, pull records, and dig deep into the driver’s history and schedule.

We collect:

  • Driver logbooks (paper and electronic)

  • GPS data showing routes and speeds

  • Fuel receipts and toll records to verify time spent on the road

  • In-cab video footage if available

  • Dispatch communication records

We may also interview other drivers, warehouse staff, and company managers to find out whether the trucking company pressured the driver or ignored signs of fatigue. When needed, we work with sleep specialists and forensic experts to explain how long periods without rest impair performance.

Real-Life Impact

One moment of drowsiness can change a life forever. We’ve represented clients who suffered spinal injuries, traumatic brain damage, and severe burns in crashes with 18-wheelers. Some have lost family members in head-on collisions caused by fatigued drivers who crossed into oncoming traffic.

These aren’t minor accidents. They come with:

  • Long hospital stays

  • Permanent disabilities

  • Expensive rehabilitation

  • Missed time from work

  • Emotional and psychological trauma

Our role as car accident attorneys is to help our clients rebuild—not just physically, but financially and emotionally too. Fatigue-related crashes are preventable. That’s what makes them so devastating.

What Texas Law Says About Truck Accident Liability

In Texas, truck accident claims are typically filed under negligence. To succeed, we have to prove:

  1. The driver or another party owed a duty of care

  2. They breached that duty by allowing fatigue to impair safe operation

  3. That breach caused the crash

  4. Our client suffered injuries as a result

We might also pursue negligent hiring, negligent supervision, or gross negligence if the trucking company showed a pattern of reckless behavior. In the worst cases, we ask for punitive damages—not just to compensate, but to punish companies that put others at risk.

How Insurance Companies Fight Back

The defense doesn’t make it easy. Insurance carriers representing trucking companies often try to shift blame, hide evidence, or suggest the victim caused the crash. They might argue that:

  • The driver wasn’t tired

  • The crash was unavoidable

  • Our client stopped suddenly or acted unpredictably

  • Logs don’t show violations

That’s why it’s so important to contact a car accident attorney right away. The sooner we’re involved, the faster we can start preserving key evidence before it disappears.

What to Do If You Suspect Driver Fatigue Caused Your Accident

If you were in a crash with an 18-wheeler and suspect the driver was drowsy, here’s what you should do:

  • Get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine.

  • Document everything, including photos, injuries, and statements.

  • Write down anything the driver said that might indicate tiredness.

  • Avoid speaking to the trucking company’s insurance reps without a lawyer.

  • Contact a car accident attorney with experience in fatigue-related cases.

We’ll help you sort through the facts, identify who’s responsible, and fight for full compensation. Driver fatigue is one of the most serious threats on Texas highways. 

When a tired trucker causes an 18-wheeler crash, the results are often tragic. Victims and their families deserve answers, and they deserve justice.

Contact Our Team Today

We don’t let trucking companies off the hook. We investigate every detail, expose wrongdoing, and fight for the truth to come out—whether it’s in a courtroom or at the settlement table. If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash with a tractor-trailer in Houston, Texas, or the surrounding areas, don’t wait. Contact our Texas car accident attorney today at Bradford N. Oesch, P.C.