What Causes Trucking Accidents?
Trucks make up a small portion of the vehicles on the road but they can cause serious injuries or even death. Accidents involving large trucks could result when drivers are distracted or fail to pay attention to their blind spots.
Trucking accidents can be the result of driver fatigue. These drivers often work long hours, without breaks, to meet their quotas.
Driver Error
Driver error is the most common reason behind trucking accidents and it is a very serious problem. Driver errors can be caused by a variety of causes. It is crucial to know the causes of this type of mistake and how to avoid it.
Carelessness, distraction, inattention and drowsiness are some of the most common errors made by drivers. These can be extremely dangerous, particularly when paired with the huge size and weight of a truck.
For example, truck drivers often work long hours, but do not take enough rest. Truck drivers are frequently under pressure by their employers to deliver loads as quickly as possible. This could lead them to disregard safety standards.
Another common error made by drivers is driving under the impaired by alcohol or drugs. Drivers with these kinds of issues could cause serious accidents in the car, and might even kill or injure others.
Other driver mistakes include improper maintenance of vehicles and other parts and defective components that could lead a crash. All of these are serious problems that trucking companies must deal with immediately.
truck accident lawyer are also caused by weather conditions, such as rain or slippery roads. Truck drivers must slow down when they encounter these conditions and they must be aware of how the conditions affect their vehicles.
A recent study revealed that truckers who do not complete these tasks may be the cause of fatal accidents. It is vital that trucking companies ensure that their employees adhere to these safety standards in order they can safeguard themselves and their customers from these deadly accidents.
The study also revealed that certain drivers are more prone to commit these errors than others. This could be because they have a lower degree of education or experience.
These findings can decrease the number of crashes that occur on the roads and aid trucking companies in finding ways to increase the safety of their drivers. Drivers who are prone to these types of errors can be identified, and the business is more likely prepare them correctly so that they do not make these mistakes in the future.
Mechanical Problems
While driver error is the main cause of trucking accidents 10 percent of these incidents also result from mechanical problems. This makes it even more crucial that truck drivers are aware of the parts of their vehicles that can fail.
Federal and state law requires that commercial trucking firms to inspect, repair and maintain their vehicles regularly. If these inspections are not conducted, drivers and cargos could be at risk of serious accident that can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death.
Transmission, brakes, and tires systems are all essential to a truck's safety. If they fail an driver could lose control of their car and crash into other vehicles, or pedestrians.
Tire failures, including blowouts, are also a frequent cause of trucking accidents, particularly in bad weather or when the terrain is uneven. They can result in jackknifes and swerves, which could result in serious accidents.
Other parts of a truck that can have an impact on safety of the driver include steering and suspension systems. These systems can malfunction as because of inadequate maintenance, excessive load or other causes.
In addition, if a truck isn't properly serviced or maintained on a regular basis the components could be damaged more quickly than they ought to. For example when a truck's transmission isn't inspected or serviced regularly and it starts to break down and stall before the driver realizes it.
The lighting system of truck's lighting system can also affect the safety of drivers. The lights could malfunction or get damaged causing other drivers to be unable to see the truck and its contents.
As the weather starts to turn colder It is essential for truckers to make sure that their vehicle's lights are working properly. This can prevent accidents in the event that the road is covered with snow or rain, or even sleet.
In certain instances the lights on a truck can fail due to defective wiring or design defects. These issues can cause a truck driver to lose their visibility and overlook a roadside hazard. These issues can also result in fatal accidents, particularly when drivers are tired or distracted by other issues.
Overloading
Overloading of trucks is an extremely serious issue that leads to numerous trucking accidents. It can result in numerous injuries and fatalities to other motorists.
Overloaded trucks are more likely to tip over or get in a jackknife. This can result in catastrophic injuries for anyone on the road. Additionally, cargo that is not secured properly can be thrown out of the vehicle, causing obstruction to other drivers on the road.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has set strict weight limits for commercial trucks to help prevent accidents involving trucks. These limits limit the truck's gross axle weight and its combined weight.
If a truck is laden and is unable to handle the load, it must slow down and brake more frequently to avoid an accident with another vehicle. A truck driver who is overloaded might not be able as usual to steer the vehicle and this could lead to an accident.
This kind of trucking accident can be deadly for anyone driving and especially in a severe rainstorm or during snowy conditions. The additional weight also puts added stress on the brakes and other parts of the truck, which causes them to wear out faster.
Tire blowouts are another typical indication of an overloaded truck. This is because the added weight pushes the tires to their limit, resulting in a blowout and a loss of control.
Other indicators that a truck is overloaded include sudden, jerking movements and bowing or sagging of the trailer. It is important to inspect the load before moving the vehicle off the dock for loading.
There are a variety of reasons why trucks become overloaded for instance, business owners who want to save money by reducing the amount of time required to transport cargo. Overloaded trucks could also be caused by inexperienced or unskilled drivers.
Get a lawyer involved if you or someone you care about was injured in an accident caused by an overloaded vehicle. They can assist you to determine if it is appropriate to make a claim. This could be a good method of ensuring that the responsible parties are held liable for the damages and losses you suffered.
Jackknife Accidents
Commercial trucks have the potential to strike a jackknife, causing catastrophic injuries to those who suffer from accidents. These kinds of trucking accidents happen more frequently than you believe, as trucks weigh 80,000 pounds and possess the capability of swinging an oversized trailer of 28 feet at speeds that can destroy the private property of people and vehicles.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can take to stop these trucking accidents from occurring. If you live in Hidalgo county or the state of Texas, and you have suffered serious injuries in a jackknife crash, you may be able seek compensation for your injuries through a skilled trucking injury lawyer.
Drivers can also prevent jackknife accidents by taking the time to slow down and allow trucks ample space for braking. This is particularly important on roads that are wet, icy, or have a lot of ice and snow on the roads.
Jackknife accidents can happen when commercial trucks' brakes are locked up abruptly and the driver loses control of the vehicle. For example, a driver might make a mistake when judging a sharp curve, and accelerate too fast, which causes the brakes to lock up. The truck might then jackknife as the trailer shifts to one side or other, causing damage to other vehicles in the vicinity.
A shift in the cargo's weight within the trailer of the truck is another common cause of jackknife accident. Expert loaders take care when placing the cargo on their trailers to ensure that the truck and trailer maintain balance. However, if the load shifts drastically it could cause the trailer shift out of balance and cause jackknife.
The driver of a trailer that has an jackknifed cylinder could lose control over his truck and its cargo. This could lead to serious injuries as well as the need for expensive medical attention and a loss of wages.
Despite the fact that a myriad of factors can cause trucks to jackknife on the road, bad road conditions are most likely to be at fault. Rain, snow, ice, road spray, loose material from the engine of the truck, tire kickup, and other environmental factors can all affect the traction on the road and cause a truck to lose control.