What Causes Trucking Accidents?
Trucks comprise a tiny portion of the vehicles that travel on the roads but they can cause serious injuries or death. Accidents that involve large vehicles can result when drivers are distracted or fail to pay attention to their blind spots.
Driver fatigue can also be a factor in trucking accidents. These drivers work long hours with no rest breaks in order to meet their quotas.
Driver Error
Driver error is the most common cause of trucking accidents, and it's a serious issue. Driver errors can be caused by a number of factors. It is crucial to understand what causes this type of error and how to avoid it.
The most frequent errors made by drivers include carelessness, inattention, distractedness and drowsiness. These issues can be extremely hazardous, particularly when they are combined with the enormous size and weight of the truck.
Truck drivers, for instance typically work long hours and do not get enough rest. They are often under pressure to get loads to their destinations as fast as possible, and this can cause them to ignore safety guidelines.
Another common mistake is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These drivers could cause serious car accidents and even kill or hurt others.
Other driver faults include insufficient maintenance of the vehicle and other components, as well as defective parts that can lead to the possibility of a crash. These are all extremely important issues that should be addressed by trucking companies as soon as possible.
Trucking accidents can also be caused by weather conditions like rain or slick roads. Truck drivers are required to slow down when they encounter these conditions and they must be aware of how these conditions can affect their vehicles.
A recent study showed that truckers who fail to complete these tasks may be responsible for fatal crashes. Therefore, it is essential for trucking companies to ensure that all employees follow these safety standards in order to protect their clients and themselves from deadly accidents.
The study also found certain drivers more likely to make these mistakes than others. This could be due to their lower level of education or experience.
These findings can help reduce the number of crashes on the road and aid trucking companies in finding ways to increase the safety of drivers. The company can spot drivers who are prone for mistakes like these and educate them on how to avoid making mistakes in the future.
Mechanical Problems
While driver error is the main cause of trucking accidents 10 percent of these accidents also involve mechanical failure. This makes it more important for truck drivers to be knowledgeable of the parts that can go wrong in their vehicles.
State and federal laws require commercial trucking companies to regularly examine, repair, and maintain their trucks. These inspections are required to avoid serious accidents that can cause catastrophic injuries or even death.
Transmission, brakes, and tires systems are all critical for the safety of trucks. If they malfunction the driver could lose control of their vehicle and crash into 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 result in jackknifes or swerves that can cause serious crashes.
Other components of a truck that can effect on the safety of drivers are suspension and steering systems. These systems may malfunction due to improper maintenance, a heavy load or other reasons.
Additionally when a truck isn't maintained or maintained regularly and its components wear down much faster than they are supposed to. For example that if the transmission isn't inspected or serviced on a frequent basis then it could begin to break down and stall before the driver even realizes it.
The lighting system in trucks can also impact the safety of drivers. These lights can malfunction or become damaged and make it difficult for other drivers to see the truck and its cargo.
As the weather begins to get colder, it is important for truckers and drivers to ensure that their vehicle's lights are in working order. This can prevent accidents when the road is covered with snow or rain, or even sleet.
A few truck lights could fail due to defective wiring or design imperfections. These problems could cause truck drivers to lose their vision and overlook a roadside hazard. These issues can result in fatal accidents, especially when a driver is tired or distracted.
Overloading
The overloaded trucks are an issue that can lead to numerous trucking accidents. This can result in serious injuries, and even death to other drivers on the road.
Overloaded trucks are more likely to overturn or get struck by a jackknife. california truck accident attorneys can result in devastating injuries for anyone traveling on the roads. Unsecured cargo may also spill out and cause other drivers to become blocked from driving.
To prevent accidents involving trucks to prevent trucking accidents, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has imposed strict weight limits on commercial trucks. These limits limit the truck's gross axle weight and gross combination weight.
A truck that is overloaded will require braking and slow down more frequently to avoid an accident. A truck driver who is loaded might not be able as normally to control the vehicle which could lead to an accident.
This kind of trucking accident can be fatal, particularly in the event of an extreme downpour or snowy conditions. The extra weight also places additional stress on the brakes as well as other parts of the truck, causing them to wear out more quickly.
Tire blowouts could also be a sign of an overloaded vehicle. The added weight puts tires under pressure, resulting in a blowout of the tire and loss of control.
Other indicators that a vehicle is laden with too much are sudden, motions that jerk, or bowing or sagging in the trailer. It is essential to check the load before moving the vehicle off the dock to load.
Overloaded trucks are often the result of a variety of factors, such as the desire of business owners to save money through reduction in time required to transport their cargo. Overloaded trucks may also be caused by inexperienced or untrained drivers.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by an overloaded truck, it is recommended that you seek out a legal professional to determine if it is appropriate to file an insurance claim. This is an effective way to ensure that responsible parties are held liable for the damages and losses you suffered.
Jackknife Accidents
Commercial trucks are prone to jackknifing in causing devastating injuries to victims of accidents. These accidents involving trucks are more common than you think. Trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and can carry a trailer that spans 28 feet at speeds that could cause destruction to private property and even passenger cars.
There are many ways to avoid these accidents. First, if you reside in Hidalgo County or in the state of Texas and have suffered a serious injuries in a jackknife incident you might be able to seek compensation for your losses by seeking help from an experienced trucking accident lawyer.
Slowing down and allowing trucks plenty of room to brake will help drivers avoid jackknife crashes. This is especially important on roads that are icy, wet or have lots of ice and snow on them.
When the brakes of a commercial truck lock up suddenly, the driver might lose control of the vehicle. For instance, a driver can mistakenly judge a sharp curve and speed up, which causes the brakes to lock up. The truck could jackknife if the trailer is moved to one side. This can cause damage to other vehicles.
Another cause of accident involving a jackknife is a shift in the weight of the cargo inside the truck's trailer. Loaders who are experienced carefully pack cargo into their trailers so that the truck and its trailer are balanced. If the load shifts drastically the trailer could be out of balance and jackknife.
The driver of a trailer which has jackknifed may lose control of his vehicle and cargo. This can result in serious injuries that require extensive medical attention and a loss of wages.
There are a myriad of reasons that can cause a vehicle to jackknife, the most common cause is due to poor road conditions. Rain, snow, road sprays, loose components from a truck's engine, and tire kickups are all environmental factors that can cause a truck to lose control.