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Truck accidents can be catastrophic, causing debilitating injuries and even death for those involved. If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, it’s helpful to know the common causes so that you can determine who might be liable for the damages.
Fatigue is one of the major contributors to trucking-related accidents. This is because driving while tired or exhausted can impair your judgment and reaction times significantly—and when a large vehicle is involved in such a situation, it can be particularly dangerous.
Regulations exist that limit how many hours a truck driver can spend behind the wheel each day and week, but unfortunately these rules are sometimes disregarded or ignored by drivers looking to finish their route quickly.
Texting while driving has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it’s even more dangerous when done by someone operating a large commercial truck. The problem isn’t limited to texting either; distracted driving comes in many forms including talking on the phone, adjusting music or navigation systems, eating, drinking, and anything that takes a driver’s attention away from the road.
Truck owners are responsible for ensuring that their vehicles are properly maintained at all times. However, this doesn’t always happen. Poorly maintained trucks can lead to increased chances of an accident occurring due to brakes or tires that aren’t up to date with safety standards.
Another leading cause of truck accidents is poor cargo loading. When a truck is loaded with too much weight or if cargo isn’t properly secured, it can cause an accident. This is particularly true when large trucks have to make sharp turns or sudden stops.
Another common cause of truck accidents is dangerous road conditions. Poorly maintained roads, potholes, debris on the road, or construction zones can all lead to an accident. These hazards can reduce traction or visibility for drivers and could cause them to swerve suddenly into a lane or lose control completely.
Bad weather can also play a role in causing truck accidents. Heavy rain or snowfall reduces visibility for drivers, making it difficult for them to see other vehicles around them or react quickly enough when sudden changes occur in traffic flow. Drivers should always be aware of current weather conditions before hitting the road and should adjust their speed accordingly.
Drivers may also experience increased pressure due to unrealistic time constraints set by their employers, leading them into unsafe decisions when behind the wheel such as speeding.
It’s important for employers and companies shipping goods through trucks to understand how much stress this puts on drivers and strive towards providing realistic timelines so that everyone involved is safe from harm’s way while on the job.
Finally, poor driver training can lead to serious truck accidents due to a lack of experience behind the wheel. To prevent these scenarios from occurring, it’s important that all new commercial truck drivers receive adequate training before getting behind the wheel of such a powerful vehicle.
If you need help after being involved in an accident, our Phoenix truck accident lawyers are here for you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.