Truckers who drink more coffee may be more likely to crash
With truckers working long hours every day, it makes sense that a lot of them would try to stay awake with coffee. One study, however, has tentatively linked high amounts of coffee use over the long term with a greater risk for an accident. If you were injured in a truck accident in Pennsylvania and you found that the trucker was drowsy, then this study may shed some light on how the crash possibly happened.
High coffee consumption and truckers
A study conducted by a transportation safety expert in the U.K. and researchers at the Virginia Tech Transport Institute analyzed some 3,000 U.S. drivers, picked from a pool of 11,000 in eight states, because of their particular coffee consumption habits. The drivers were classified as low coffee users (one cup a day) or high coffee users (more than five cups).
Among the first group, 21.6% admitted in a questionnaire that they were in a crash in the previous three years. In the second group, that percentage was 27.8%. Not only that, but the high coffee users also reported having poor sleep and overall health. Many admitted that their diet was unhealthy, that they smoked and that they drank more alcohol.
Coffee is acceptable in the short run
Researchers point out that it is only with high coffee consumption over the long term that truckers can be at a higher risk for a crash. They are also clear that the correlation between frequent coffee drinkers and their crash rate does not necessarily imply causation. Coffee was not the only drink mentioned by truckers; some would consume energy drinks for that needed boost in attention.
Seeking compensation for catastrophic injuries
Everyone is supposed to exercise caution on the road, and driving while drowsy goes against this even when one is trying to stay awake with caffeine. You, like many victims of truck crashes, have probably suffered catastrophic injuries, in which case you may want a lawyer to help you file a claim against the trucking company. The lawyer may seek a reasonable settlement while you continue to focus on recovering.