You were taking your children to a soccer game when an accident occurred. Perhaps it even involved a truck. One thing to remember is that truckers can be just as negligent as passenger vehicle drivers in Florida. They can drive drowsy, for instance, or distract themselves with their phones behind the wheel. Now, a study published in the journal Safety Science says that truck drivers increase their risk for an accident if they drink lots of coffee over the long term.
Coffee consumption and truck crash risk
The study involved 3,007 drivers from eight different states who were chosen specifically for their coffee drinking habits. Every day, they drink either one cup or more than five cups of coffee. Researchers then asked these drivers if they were in a crash in the previous three years. It turns out that 21.6% of the truckers who drink one cup a day were in a crash. Of the second group, 27.8% said yes.
Coffee consumption and overall health
The researchers found something else as well. Those who drink over five cups of coffee a day reported that their health was poor, their diet unhealthy and their sleep not as restful as it should be. They also tended to smoke and drink more alcohol than the other group.
The study’s authors make it clear, though, that the association does not necessarily imply a cause-effect relationship between high coffee consumption and increased crash risk. More research is needed to clarify things. For example, truckers may consume less coffee on their days off, which could wind up changing the results.
Personal injury lawyer for guidance
The crash you were in and that was caused by truck driver negligence probably left you and other occupants with serious injuries. Still, you can seek compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the truck driver’s employer. You may want a lawyer to handle each step on your behalf.