A crash between a semi-trailer and a passenger vehicle can be disastrous. Think of what an out-of-control fully loaded truck weighing 80,000 pounds can do to a passenger car. The car can be pulverized. Severe injury and fatality rates are high. According to the National Safety Council, 107,000 large trucks were involved in crashes in the United States in 2021, and 4,842 of those crashes involved fatalities. What are the causes of accidents involving big rigs? There is really a long list of causes, but here are some of the main reasons for accidents that are caused by large truck drivers.
Drowsy and Fatigued Driving
Truck drivers are always under pressure to make more deliveries in less time. They’re behind the wheel for excessive hours, regardless of the fact that hours of service rules have been put in place. Many drivers simply ignore these regulations. Drowsy and fatigued driving directly affects a truck driver’s ability to operate a truck and trailer safely and effectively.
Driving Too Fast for Traffic and Weather Conditions
Given their compressed schedules, truck drivers take risks while driving. One of those risks is driving too fast for traffic or weather conditions. In reality, this is another form of excessive speed. Following another vehicle ahead of a truck too closely decreases stopping ability as does traveling at a speed that is reasonable and proper given weather and visibility conditions.,
Distracted Driving
Anything that takes a truck driver’s full attention off of the roadway constitutes distracted driving. Distractions include talking on a cell phone while driving, texting while driving, using a navigational device, or even watching a movie while driving. At 55 mph, in the time that it takes to look at a text message, a truck driver can travel the length of a football field.
Inadequate Vehicle Maintenance
We’ve all seen remnants of blown-out truck tires on roadways. You’ve probably even seen pieces of metal on the road that have fallen off of truck brakes or other parts of trucks or trailers because of poor maintenance. Drivers must be able to stop any truck in the event of a traffic bottleneck or emergency. It could mean the difference between a normal life or permanent severe disability or even death.
Cargo Loading Issues
In order to fulfill the purpose of transporting goods, big rigs are high, and that affects their center of gravity. Improperly secured loads in a truck’s trailer can shift. Load shifts can affect a driver’s ability to control a truck and trailer. They’re common causes of rollover and jackknife accidents. Trucking and loading companies are often responsible for proper cargo loading.
Inadequate Driver Training
An experienced truck accident lawyer is acutely aware of the fact that there are many truck drivers on the road who are inadequately trained. Trucking companies are responsible for the proper training of their drivers. If a driver isn’t properly trained, the chances of a truck accident rise significantly.
You don’t ever want to be in a truck accident involving a semi-trailer. Always keep the fact in mind that it takes a semi-trailer considerably longer to stop than it does for a car to stop. Maintain awareness of the fact that the larger the truck, the larger the blind spots will be for a driver too. Don’t make sudden and abrupt lane changes or cut in and out of traffic. Always be prepared to avoid an accident. There’s a good chance that the truck driver doesn’t even know that you’re there.
