4 Causes of Trucking Accidents You Should Know About
Vehicle accidents involving large trucks occur much more often than you might think. In fact, every 16 minutes a person in the United States will die or be injured in a trucking accident. Because most of the trucks weigh over 10,000 pounds, they can cause severe injuries to drivers and passengers who are involved in the accidents. Here are 4 causes of trucking accidents you should know about:
1. Speeding
As with most motor vehicle accidents, one of the most common causes of trucking accidents is speeding. Truck drivers are on a tight schedule for pickups and deliveries, which leads to them trying to get the job done as fast as possible. As they travel down the freeways or back roads, speeding can cause a huge increase in accidents. Many of the major trucking companies have installed speed trackers to try and avoid this issue, but there are still plenty of large trucks on the road that do not have this technology. The reason that speeding is especially dangerous in large trucks is that they take longer to react to quick changes, such as swerving or slamming on the brakes.
2. Distracted Driving
Since truck drivers are on the road for most of their day, it can be easy for them to take their eyes off the road for a minute or two. However, a distracted driver is dangerous and reckless, especially when they are controlling such a large vehicle. Truck drivers who are texting or distracted by something else going on can cause thousands of dollars in property damage and may even injure themselves or someone else on the road.
3. Fatigued Driver
As we have already touched on, truck drivers spend a crazy amount of time behind the wheel. While there are regulations in place to try and keep tired truckers off the road, these mandates are not always followed for a number of reasons. If a delivery gets delayed by traffic, bad weather, or another accident, they may try to push their limits to get caught up on time. This can lead to drivers falling asleep behind the wheel, which could be a decision that leads to someone getting severely injured or killed.
4. Road Construction
You can imagine that navigating small roadways and tight curves can make it difficult for truck drivers to operate. This challenge becomes even more difficult when they come to an area with heavy traffic and road construction. Many times, construction causes a shrinkage of the roadway, and the driver is forced to try and squeeze into tight spaces. This can cause the truck to either flip over or cause a collision with another vehicle or a median.
Trucking accidents can occur for a multitude of reasons, and we can help you deal with this difficult situation. Both federal and state regulations govern the tracking of trucks, and they keep a record of the hours that each vehicle is on the road. This data can be difficult to obtain, which is why you need our team of experienced lawyers on your side. Contact our law office today for a free consultation so we can help you get the compensation you are entitled to.
