Based on reports from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the most common things that lead to truck accidents are:
Speeding \Fatigue \Distraction
Driving while drunk or high
Vehicle failure
Cargo not properly tied down
Most truck accidents happen because of speeding, whether it’s going over the speed limit or going too fast in bad weather. Speeding truck accidents are often caused by things like following too close, changing lanes wrong, and moving around illegally.
Fatigued driving, which is another name for drowsy driving, is always a worry on the road. There are laws that say how long a truck driver can drive before they have to stop and rest, but some truck drivers may break these laws to get to their destination faster. Fatigue can slow down your reactions, make you lose focus, and even cause you to fall asleep at the wheel.
Distracted driving is a big problem on the highways in general, but it’s even more dangerous for big trucks. This includes eating, talking on a cell phone, reading, and fiddling with the radio. Every year, distractions cause tens of thousands of accidents. Distractions can make it hard to pay attention to possible dangers like rough roads, other cars, or stop lights.
Alcohol isn’t the only thing that can make it hard to drive. This can be done by taking opiate painkillers, marijuana, illegal drugs like cocaine and speed, or any other drug that makes it hard to think and move quickly. It is against the law for a truck driver to use these drugs because they could cause an accident.
In this way, the accident may have been caused in part by someone other than the truck driver. Most truck companies have maintenance crews whose job it is to make sure the truck is safe to drive, but this doesn’t always happen. In fact, a study from 2010 showed that almost 55% of trucks that were checked after a crash had a safety-related mechanical problem, and almost 30% of those trucks should not have been on the road at all. Most likely to break are the tires, brakes, wheels, powertrains, lighting, and coupling systems.
When the truck stops too quickly or makes a sharp turn, cargo that hasn’t been properly secured can spill or move. This can throw the truck’s balance off and cause it to jackknife or roll over, which can be very dangerous. In this case, the loading crew might have done something wrong by not making sure the cargo was safe.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a semi truck accident give the 247 Help Group a call we can connect you with a afterhours semi truck accident attorney immediately.
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This post utilizes secondary sources. Local and state police records, local news, social media, and eyewitness accounts are included. Our team hasn’t verified all accident information. Please report any erroneous information so we can correct it. Requested post removal is possible.
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