Founding Attorney
You don’t need to have seen a semi-truck accident to get an idea of how devastating such accidents can be. After all, the overwhelming size of these vehicles is enough to intimidate even the most seasoned of drivers. When the force of these oversized vehicles impacts with another vehicle, the consequences are often catastrophic. The injuries, when not fatal, can leave a person disabled for life. Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes of semi-truck accidents.
The Most Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents
The first category of common causes of semi-truck accidents focuses on driver error. This category includes:
- Driver intoxication: Truck drivers, like any other driver, can make the poor decision to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This means that they are operating oversized vehicles while their judgment is impaired, reflexes lag, and reaction times slow.
- Driver fatigue: Truck drivers are on the road for long stretches of time. Fortunately, there are laws in place that restrict how much time a driver can spend on the road in a single stretch. Unfortunately, truck drivers do not always comply with such restrictions. The result is often a truck driver driving while fatigued. A fatigued driver may start dozing off at the wheel. Their reaction time will be slowed and they put everyone else on the road in danger.
- Distracted driving: Truck drivers must focus on the road, just like the rest of us. When a truck driver texts, eats, or engages in any other activity that takes their full attention and/or eyesight off of the road, accidents can happen all too easily.
- Reckless driving: Tailgating, speeding, running red lights, and excessively changing lanes are just some of the reckless driving behaviors truck drivers may engage in that increase the risk of an accident occurring.
There are other causes of truck accidents that are not necessarily the driver’s fault. For instance, the truck may have been poorly maintained. This could lead to brake troubles or tire blowouts. An accident may also have been caused by improper cargo loading on the truck. When cargo is not properly loaded, the truck may be prone to tipping over. These are problems that may be the fault of the trucking company or a third party. If the driver failed to receive proper training and could not operate the truck safely as a result, the trucking company may also be held liable for a resulting accident.
Other contributing and common causes to truck accidents include inclement weather and poor roadway conditions. When it is raining or snowing, roadway traction is at a minimum and the driver’s visual of the roadway is likely to be impaired. The slick road can make braking more difficult. Poor roadway conditions can also easily cause truck accidents. Roadways filled with potholes or otherwise in disrepair can lead to tire blowouts and drivers losing control of their vehicles.
Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been injured in a trucking accident, time is of the essence to protect your legal rights to seek full and fair compensation for the harm you have suffered. You may have a claim against the truck driver, trucking company, or another third party. Talk to Attorney Michael LoGiudice about your options. Contact us today.