Top 5 Causes of Trucking Accidents
Experiencing a truck accident can be exceptionally scary. Semi-trucks have the potential to cause life-changing and debilitating injuries, as well as damages that far exceed those from minor fender benders.
Truck accidents typically cause more severe injuries and damages due to the sheer size and heavyweight of semi-trucks. Our attorneys have seen first-hand the destruction tractor-trailer crashes can cause.
To learn more about the most common causes of trucking accidents, you can visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety administrations website or keep reading below for our abridged list.
Top Five Causes of Trucking Accidents
- Fatigued Drivers – Truck drivers must follow strict guidelines on the amount of time they are legally able to operate their big rigs. Detailed logs must be kept, specifying the number of hours they have spent on the road driving versus resting. Unfortunately, some truckers disregard these regulations in order to make tight deadlines; therefore, driver fatigue remains an ongoing problem.
- Reckless Driving – Semi-trucks cannot operate the same as passenger vehicles. Their weight and size require extra precautions, and many roads dictate the speed and lane restrictions for vehicles over a certain weight. Therefore, speeding and overtaking are two very dangerous actions that responsible truck drivers avoid for their own safety, as well as the safety of others.
- Neglected Maintenance – As with any vehicle on the road, on-going truck maintenance is required. However, due to the number of miles driven daily, semi-truck maintenance is typically required more often. It is important for truck drivers, or their companies, to inspect vehicles before being sent out on the road.
- Improperly Loaded Cargo – Uneven cargo distribution can be a disastrous oversight. Whether the weight of the load is only distributed to one side of the trailer, or the weight is too heavy in general, improperly loaded cargo can lead to catastrophic consequences for everyone involved.
- Distracted Driving – Like the cause of many motor vehicle accidents in the United States, distracted driving can be a major cause of trucking accidents. Whether the driver is looking at their phone to send a text, on the radio talking with other truckers, or looking at their GPS to figure out where they are going for their next delivery, distracted driving is a major cause of crashes.
What to Do if You Were Injured in a Trucking Accident?
If you were injured in a trucking accident, Chaffin Luhana can help. Our law firm is experienced in handling personal injury cases like these and has recovered over 1 billion in damages for our clients.
If you were hurt in a commercial truck accident, trust the experience and reputation that Chaffin Luhana has to offer your personal injury case. Contact us today for a free case review.