Truck accidents are not only terrifying but can cause a lot of damage. They can also be deadly. Many other factors, such as driving while exhausted from a hard day’s work, driving at night, or going on uncharted roads, might result in a truck crash. Truck drivers can also be distracted or tempted to speed to meet their work schedules.
Driver Distraction
Trucking accidents can happen when a driver diverts their attention from driving to a different activity. It can include dialing a phone, dispatching devices, eating or drinking, texting, reading, GPS, and other in-cab distractions. Distractions can also include looking at a billboard or person outside the cab. Truck drivers are often required to work long hours, making them more susceptible to fatigue-related crashes. It is why the FMCSA created Hours of Service regulations for trucks. However, some companies may force their drivers to exceed these regulations. If a crash occurs, lawyers from websites like barruslaw.com can investigate the trucker’s black box and subpoena cellphone records to see if they were distracted during the accident. It can help establish liability.
Road Rage
Truck drivers who engage in road rage put themselves and other people at risk of serious injury or death. They may fail to yield the right of way, tailgate, follow another driver too closely, or make rude gestures. In extreme cases, a truck driver with road rage may attempt to run another vehicle off the roadway or assault it. Truckers tired from driving long hours to meet demanding quotas may drift into opposing lanes, causing head-on collisions with oncoming traffic. They may also be influenced by illegal drugs or excessive over-the-counter drug use and lose control of their vehicles. Truck drivers also have difficulty changing lanes because they cannot see down the sides of their trucks. It often leads to lane changes that cut other vehicles off or lead to rear-end accidents.
Unsafe Lane Changes
Truck drivers must check their truck’s blind spots thoroughly before switching lanes. Failure to do so may result in collisions that seriously hurt or kill other drivers. Truckers must also pay close attention to the condition of their brakes, the load they are carrying and road surface conditions. Truckers may have to drive long distances to meet delivery deadlines. It can lead to them skipping required rest or going while tired. Trucking companies should focus more on driver safety than pushing their employees to meet unrealistic deadlines. Truckers should also be aware of unexpected road hazards, which account for one-third of truck crashes. These can include potholes, maintenance hole covers, and other unseen obstructions that can send your truck into a spin or rollover accident.
Poor Maintenance
Trucking firms and drivers are accountable for maintaining the condition of their vehicles, although they frequently require assistance. It can result in mechanical problems such as brake failure, structural issues, or even tire blowouts, which could cause a deadly crash. Trucks that are improperly loaded or secured with cargo may also pose a hazard to other motorists. If a load shifts while driving, it could crush a car or even jackknife it. Inattentive or tired truck drivers may drift out of their lane into oncoming traffic or miss stop signs and red lights, leading to devastating rear-end crashes. Similarly, distracted or speeding truckers may follow cars too closely and slam into them from behind, creating dangerous head-on collisions.
Poor Road Conditions
Poor road conditions are one of the leading causes of trucking accidents. The design of roads and highways must be carefully considered to ensure safety for all drivers, including trucks. Truck drivers can suffer serious, life-threatening injuries if they encounter bad road conditions. These injuries may include head trauma, neck or back injury, internal injuries, and broken bones. They may also require a lengthy hospital stay and expensive medical treatment. According to LTCCS, environment-related critical reasons accounted for approximately 2% of crashes with large trucks. Of these, slick roads and view obstructions were the most common. These conditions can easily cause a truck accident, especially when combined with other factors like fatigue and medication use. The massive difference in size between a passenger vehicle and a truck can also lead to t-bone accidents, which happen when a truck hits the side of another car.
