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With nearly 4,000 people dying every year in big rig crashes, it’s important to do something about the most common crash factors. A leading one is drowsiness. Truckers in Kentucky may want to start by evaluating their sleep schedule. Rather than trying to sleep an unbroken six to eight hours, they could take naps. The National Sleep Foundation says naps can make one more attentive and less prone to make mistakes.
Second, a poor diet negatively impacts driving. The National Institutes of Health recommends tuna and chicken sandwiches over fast-food hamburgers and English muffins or bagels over donuts. Truckers who eat a candy bar for a quick sugar rush should know that they will become even more tired once the effects wear off.
Truckers should also limit caffeine and alcohol consumption. According to the FDA, caffeine releases more adrenaline into the body, causing high blood pressure, headaches and dizziness. Alcohol is a depressant, so sleepiness is a natural outcome when truckers consume it. In addition, truckers must substitute more water for caffeine and alcohol. Water cushions joints and can protect the spinal cord. This leads to understanding how the cab can affect physical health. Without a seat suspension system, for instance, truckers may develop chronic fatigue and serious back pain due to constant bouncing and jarring.
Many truck accidents occur because of drowsiness, and these can lead to severe injuries for those in passenger vehicles. Fortunately, victims may be able to file a third-party injury claim rather than settle for what their own insurance company has to offer. If they do so, they must expect opposition from the trucking company. It’s advisable, therefore, to have a lawyer’s assistance for this complicated and time-sensitive process.