The most common causes of truck crashes include driver fatigue, speeding, distracted driving, mechanical failures, and improper cargo loading. If you’ve been hurt in a wreck, call the experienced Houston big rig accident lawyers at the Doan Law Firm for assistance.
Driver Fatigue Is a Well-Documented and Significant Cause of Truck Crashes
A truck driver who spends a long period of time behind the wheel may be prone to fatigue. Some of the symptoms of driver fatigue include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Microsleeps
- Heavy eyelids
- Frequent yawning
- Drifting in and out of lanes
Driver fatigue can occur if a trucker is awake for an extended period, doesn’t get enough quality sleep, or is dealing with disruptions to their body’s natural sleep cycles.
Speeding Can Play a Role in Truck Crashes
If a truck driver is speeding, they may not be able to stop their vehicle in time to prevent an accident with a motorist, motorcyclist, or others.
Truck drivers are responsible for following the posted speed limit. If a trucker drives above the speed limit and causes an accident, they may be held liable for the incident and the losses of those involved.
Distracted Driving Can Contribute to Trucking Crashes
A truck driver who chooses to text while driving, eat, drink, converse with a passenger, or do things other than focus on safe driving may be increasingly susceptible to accidents.
In most parts of the United States, distracted driving is against the law. By driving while distracted, a trucker could be held liable for an accident and face criminal penalties for their actions.
Mechanical Failures May Lead to Truck Collisions
Truck maintenance is essential. Otherwise, if a truck has faulty brakes or other mechanical failures, a driver may not be able to operate the vehicle safely, which may lead to an accident.
Regular truck maintenance can minimize the risk of mechanical failures. If a truck company or other parties ignore vehicle maintenance, and a vehicle operator gets into an accident, they may be held liable for the incident.
Poorly Loaded Cargo Can Play a Role in Truck Accidents
If a truck has too much cargo or if the items on the vehicle are not loaded properly, a tipover or rollover accident could happen, causing severe harm to anyone involved.
Cargo loaders may be responsible for properly loading a truck. If a cargo loader doesn’t load a truck correctly, and the vehicle is involved in an accident, the loader may be held responsible.
Other Common Causes of Truck Crashes That You Need to Know About
Truck accidents are reported across the United States every day, and there are many reasons why these incidents happen, such as:
- Driver impairment: A truck driver chooses to operate their vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, which can contribute to an accident.
- Work pressure: If a truck driver or trucking company feels the pressure to get deliveries done quickly, they may ignore hours of service (HOS) rules and other truck industry regulations. This can increase the risk of a truck accident.
- Lack of training: A truck driver may lack sufficient training, and due to this, they may make mistakes behind the wheel that lead to an accident.
- Poor road or weather conditions: If a truck driver doesn’t account for road hazards or inclement weather, they may get into an accident and be held liable for it.
- Reckless driving: Tailgating and other types of reckless driving can result in trucking accidents.
If you’ve experienced a wreck as a result of one of these common causes, contact the Doan Law Firm for a free case consultation.