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Car accidents take place every single day, ranging from minor fender benders to more serious collisions. When an accident involves a large commercial truck – such as semis, tractor-trailers, or even delivery trucks – the results can be absolutely devastating. Due in large part to their sheer weight and size, truck accidents often leave victims with severe, life-changing injuries – or worse. In many cases, the drivers and passengers of smaller vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists are unlikely to walk away from an accident with a large truck unscathed. Because large trucks can cause such damage when their drivers make even the smallest of mistakes, it is even more important that they do not drive fatigued and avoid all outside distractions. Sure, some of these accidents are caused by the carelessness of other drivers, but unfortunately it is often the fault of the truck driver.
One of the most important aspects of any truck accident investigation is determining who was responsible and what factors contributed to the collision. This isn’t always easy, especially if the accident caused extreme damage to all vehicles involved. There are many possible causes of trucking accidents, including the following:
- Driver Error
The number one reason that truck accidents occur is driver error. This is unfortunate, as it means most trucking accidents are avoidable. According to statistics, driver error is 10 times more likely to cause a crash than any other factor. Some examples of driver error include fatigue, inattention, distractions, and substance abuse. Any one or a combination of these factors can result in serious injuries.
- Truck Equipment Failure
It is of the utmost importance that truck drivers stay on top of all maintenance needs. By being proactive about any repairs, truckers will have a much better chance of keeping their truck running smoothly. All professional truck drivers are required by law to go over a checklist before and after they begin driving for the day. When they fail to do so, they could miss equipment problems, which could in turn lead to a serious accident. Some common examples of equipment failure include tire blowouts and other mechanical failures.
- Weather
Weather conditions have a huge impact on how safely large trucks navigate the roadways. Because of how much weight heavy trucks carry, it can be difficult to brake in bad weather. Trucks simply cannot stop as quickly as other vehicles when they are faced with weather conditions like rain, sleet, or snow. Unfortunately, truck drivers often do not take this into consideration when driving in adverse weather conditions. By failing to pay attention to local weather and road conditions, truck drivers are putting themselves and others at risk.
- Fatigue
Truck drivers are required to follow strict schedules in order to ensure they are not pushing themselves and driving while fatigued. Even though there are both state and federal regulations in place reducing the amount of time a truck driver can be on the road, drivers often ignore these guidelines and drive fatigued. Driving without enough rest is a serious problem that is one of the top reasons for trucking accidents. According to some researchers, lack of sleep may be more dangerous than driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Improper Loading
Finally, it is important that large trucks are loaded properly and that the weight is equally distributed. When this is not the case, it can cause major problems, such as fishtailing and turnover accidents. Furthermore, improper loading can cause the truck to malfunction when on the roadways.
If you have been involved in a trucking accident, please contact Rad Law Firm today. We understand how devastating these accidents can be and are here to do whatever we can to make it that much easier. To discuss your case, please contact one of our Dallas personal injury attorneys today.
