Common Causes of Truck Accidents and Who Is Liable
There are various causes of truck crashes and when understood, you can try to avoid them if you are in a position as a truck driver. On the other hand, as a pedestrian or a driver of other vehicles, you can know how to maneuver when faced with such accidents. here are the common causes of truck accidents:
- Distracted Driving – Have you ever wondered why one of the rules is not to use your phone when driving? Well, it is to avoid distraction. Many truck drivers have been distracted when watching a video on TikTok while driving and they ended up causing deadly accidents. Therefore, avoid texting, calling, or looking at those GPS guides when driving.
- Driver Fatigue – When it comes to sleep, it doesn’t matter whether you are driving or not. Some drivers want to make several rounds and they end up forgetting that their bodies need rest. Violation of hours of service regulations has caused many accidents.
- Speeding and Reckless Driving – Although it thrills to see your speedometer hitting 200MPH, it is deadly and a killer on the road. Some drivers usually speed yet they are so reckless especially in changing lanes and observing traffic and road rules. Such truck driver negligence will lead to accidents.
- Poor Maintenance of the Trucks – Some trucking companies are too focused on profit that they forget that they need to service and maintain their trucks. And since the drivers have no say concerning the decision of the management, they hop to the road and put the lives of other drivers in danger. Such trucks will suffer from faulty brakes, tire blowouts, truck engine defects, and unroadworthy trucks hence accidents.
- Poor Weather Conditions – Although this may not be blamed on the driver and trucking companies, it becomes truck driver’s negligence if they are speeding in fog, snow, or heavy rain conditions. When collecting evidence, a truck collision attorney will easily know the cause of the accident.
- Overloading – Improperly distributed cargo in transit can easily cause accidents. A truck has its specific weight it is allowed to carry, don’t carry beyond that.
- DUI – this is a major cause of truck accidents. Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and other stimulants can easily cause truck crashes. Most truck drivers will use khat and other stimulants to keep them awake through the night. That’s a dangerous way of being awake.
And who is liable for truck accidents? You may ask. Well, a truck collision lawyer will tell you that it is the trucking company’s liability to ensure that their trucks are in good condition and their drivers are monitored when in transit. Having known that, what do you do after a truck accident? That’s what we are going to discuss next.