Truckers who drink a lot of coffee are more likely to crash
Many commercial truck drivers in California drink coffee or energy drinks to stay alert behind the wheel. However, according to a new study, the long-term consumption of high-caffeine beverages could cause them to get into more truck accidents.
Researchers at Loughborough University Design School in the United Kingdom collected medical reports and questionnaires from 11,000 truckers in California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Virginia. Of those truckers, 3,007 were identified as caffeine users and divided into categories based on the amount of the stimulant they consumed each day.
The researchers found that truck drivers who consumed large amounts of caffeine per day were 6% more likely to have been in a crash within the previous three years than those who consumed low amounts of caffeine. They also found that drivers who consumed large amounts of caffeine, which was defined as the equivalent of five or more cups of coffee each day, were more likely to have poor sleep habits, drink more alcohol, smoke and have poor diets. This could mean that caffeine consumption was not solely responsible for the drivers’ increased risk of truck crashes. Instead, the accidents could be the result of the drivers’ overall unhealthy lifestyle.
Victims of truck accidents could be owed financial compensation for a variety of losses, including medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress and property damage. With the help of an attorney, it might be possible to gather police reports and other evidence proving the truck driver was legally liable for the crash. This information could then be used as the basis for a personal injury lawsuit filed against the responsible truck driver and the trucking company. Victims could have their case assessed by contacting an attorney.
