Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Posted on 31. May, 2011 by lawyer in Truck Accident
Large trucks, which are also called 18-wheelers, are involved in approximately 141,000 crashes each year according to Aubrey Allen Smith, a trucker who writes on the website Truth About Trucking. The accidents are caused by errors on the part of the truck driver or on the part of the driver of another vehicle such as a car.
Truck Driver Causes:
Truck driver fatigue is one of the causes most noted in relation to trucking accidents. Drivers who are tired after hours of driving get into crashes by falling asleep at the wheel or delayed reaction time. Federal regulations are in place to minimize trucker exhaustion, but it still remains a potential cause of accidents.
Prescription or non-prescription medication usage is another potential cause of truck accidents. Truck drivers who take a medication are subject to delayed reaction times and put others at risk.
Truckers driving over the allowed speed limits are putting others at risk. Delays during the trip such as traffic or construction and too little time for the drive result in truck drivers who are pressed for time. The result is speeding, which causes accidents.
Drivers who are unfamiliar with a road can get into accidents due to mistakes relating to the road. For example, if construction on a road requires the driver to take an unfamiliar route, he might turn the truck the wrong direction or miss signs such as stop signs or yield signs that result in an accident.
Car Driver Causes:
Drivers of passenger vehicles who drive in truck driver blind spots are a potential cause of accidents. Blind spots are some areas along the side of the truck and too close to the back of the truck.
Drivers who cut off a truck due to misjudging distances or timing can potentially cause an accident because the brakes on large trucks are not fast enough to prevent an accident.
Unsafe passing, whether because the space is insufficient or speeds are too slow, can cause accidents with trucks.
This article is provided as information only and not intended as legal advice in any means or manner whatsoever, Attorney Elan Wurtzel P.C. provides focused legal counsel within the area of Truck Accidents, and has provided this for informational purposes only.
