In Timpson, TX, on 2/28/05, a tractor trailer driver dozed off and hit a guard rail, whereupon the truck burst into flames and another tractor trailer was unable to avoid hitting it. See news story.
While the report lacks detail, this incident highlights the chronic problem of fatigue and sleep deprivation among long-haul truck drivers. The FMCSA and the trucking industry are well aware of the problem, and new FMCSR hours of service either do or do not — depending on who is talking — help to address the problem.

Ken Shigley represents plaintiffs in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases statewide in Georgia, and in other states subject to the multijurisdictional practice and pro hac vice rules in each state. Ken Shigley was designated as a “Super Lawyer” in Atlanta Magazine and one of the “Legal Elite” in Georgia Trend Magazine. He is President-Elect of the State Bar of Georgia (2011-12), a Certified Civil Trial Advocate of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Chair of the Southeastern Motor Carrier Liability Institute and former chair of the Georgia Insurance Law Institute. He particularly focuses on cases arising from truck wrecks and accidents (tractor trailers truck wrecks, semi truck wrecks,18 wheeler truck wrecks, big rig truck wrecks, log truck wrecks, dump truck wrecks). He and Sally have been married since 1983, and are the proud parnts of two young adults, Anne Shigley and Ken Shigley, Jr.