20 Myths About Trucking Accidents Attorney: Dispelled What Causes Trucking Accidents?

Trucks are only a small percentage of the vehicles that travel on the roads but they can cause serious injuries or death. Accidents involving large trucks may happen when drivers are distracted or do not pay attention to their blind spots.

Driver fatigue is also a factor in trucking accidents. They often work long hours with no breaks to meet their quotas.

Driver Error

Trucking accidents are the result of driver error which is a significant issue. There are many reasons that could contribute to driver error, and it is important to understand what causes these mistakes and how to prevent them from happening.

Inattention, carelessness, distraction and drowsiness are the most frequent mistakes that drivers make. These can be extremely dangerous, particularly when paired together with the massive size and weight of the truck.

Truck drivers, for example typically work for long hours and don't get enough rest. Truck drivers are often under pressure from their employers to deliver loads as quickly as they can. This can lead them to violate safety standards.

Another frequent mistake is driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These drivers could cause serious car accidents and even kill or injure others.

Other driver mistakes can include inadequate maintenance of the vehicle and other components as well as defective parts that could result in a crash. These are all extremely serious issues that must be addressed by trucking companies as soon as they can.

Accidents involving trucks 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 could affect their vehicles.

A recent study showed that truckers who fail to do these tasks can be at fault for fatal crashes. It is therefore crucial for trucking companies to ensure that their employees follow these safety standards, so that they can protect their customers and themselves from these dangerous accidents.


The study also revealed that certain drivers are more likely to make these errors than others. This could be due to their lower level of experience or education.

These findings can help reduce the number of crashes that occur on the roads, and can also help trucking firms find ways to improve the safety of their drivers. The company can identify drivers who are prone for these types of errors and teach them how to avoid errors in the future.

Mechanical Issues

Mechanical malfunctions are a reason for 10 percent of trucking-related accidents. This makes it all the more vital for truck drivers to be familiar with all of the components that could be damaged in their vehicles.

State and federal laws oblige commercial trucking companies to regularly check, repair, and maintain their trucks. These inspections are necessary to prevent serious accidents that could cause devastating injuries or even death.

Each of these systems is essential to the safety of the truck. If they malfunction the driver could lose control of their vehicle and collide with other vehicles or pedestrians.

Blowouts, as well as other tire failures are also a common reason for trucking accidents, especially in bad weather conditions or when the terrain is uneven. They can lead to jackknifes or swerves that can result in serious crashes.

Other truck components that can impact on the safety of drivers include steering and suspension systems. These systems may fail as a the result of poor maintenance, overloaded or other causes.

If the components of a truck aren't maintained and serviced regularly, they may become worn out faster than anticipated. If a truck's engine is not maintained and inspected regularly, it could start to malfunction before the driver even realizes it.

Another issue that can affect the safety of drivers is the lighting system of a truck. These lights can malfunction or be damaged and make it difficult for other drivers to see the truck and its cargo.

Truckers should inspect their vehicle's lighting as the weather turns cooler. This will prevent accidents when the roads are covered with snow, rain or even sleet.

Some truck lights malfunction due to wiring issues or design imperfections. These problems could cause truck drivers to lose their focus and overlook a roadside hazard. These issues can result in fatal accidents, especially if a driver is tired or distracted.

Overloading

The overloaded trucks are a serious problem that causes many trucking accidents. This can result in serious injuries and even death for other motorists on the road.

Overloaded trucks are more likely to tip over or be struck by a jackknife. This can cause devastating injuries for anyone traveling on the roads. Also, cargo that's not properly secured can spill out of the vehicle and obstruct other drivers on the road.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has set strict weight limits on commercial trucks in order to avoid accidents that occur during transport. These limits limit the truck's combined weight and gross axle weight.

If a vehicle is overloaded it will have to slow down and brake more frequently to avoid a collision with another vehicle. A truck driver who is loaded may be less able than normal to control the vehicle and this could lead to an accident.

The type of trucking accident can be fatal for anyone on the road and is especially dangerous in a heavy rainstorm or in snowy conditions. The additional weight also puts extra stress on the brakes as well as other parts of the truck, causing them to wear out more quickly.

Tire blowouts are another common sign of a truck that is overloaded. This is because the added weight puts the tires at their limits, which causes blowouts and a loss of control.

Other indicators that a truck is laden with too much are sudden, jerking movements and bowing or sagging on the trailer. It is important to check the load before moving the truck off the dock.

There are many reasons why trucks get loaded, including company owners who want to reduce their expenses by reducing amount of time required to transport their cargo. Untrained or inexperienced drivers could also cause overloaded trucks.

Consider consulting a lawyer if or someone you care about was injured in an accident resulting from an overloaded vehicle. They can assist you determine if it is appropriate to make claims. This can be an effective way to ensure that the responsible parties are held liable for your losses and damages.

Jackknife Accidents

Commercial trucks have the potential to strike a jackknife, causing catastrophic injuries to the victims of accidents. These kinds of trucking accidents happen more frequently than you think, as trucks weigh 80,000 pounds and have the capability of swinging a 28-foot trailer at speeds that could destroy private property and even passenger cars.

Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to stop these trucking accidents from occurring. If you live in Hidalgo county or the state of Texas and have suffered serious injuries as a result of an accident with a jackknife, then you might be able seek compensation for your injuries through a skilled trucking injury lawyer.

Drivers can also avoid jackknife collisions by taking the time to slow down and give trucks plenty of room to brake. This is especially important on roads with a lot of ice, snow, or when they are wet.

Jackknife accidents can happen when commercial trucks' brakes are locked up abruptly and the driver loses control of the vehicle. For instance, a driver could mistakenly judge a sharp curve and speed up, which causes the brakes to stop. The truck could jackknife if the trailer is pushed to one side. This could cause damage to other vehicles.

A shift in the weight of the cargo inside the trailer of the truck is a frequent cause of a jackknife crash. Professional loaders are careful when placing the cargo on their trailers to ensure that the trailer and the truck keep their balance. If the load shifts drastically the trailer may become out of balance, and the trailer may jackknife.

The driver of a truck that is jackknifed could lose control of the truck and its entire cargo. hartford truck accident attorneys could lead to serious injuries and the need for extensive medical care and a loss of earnings.

While a variety of causes can cause a truck to jackknife, the main and common cause is due to poor road conditions. Rain, snow, ice road spray, loose materials from the truck's engine tire kickup, and other environmental factors can all reduce the road's traction and cause a truck to lose its control.