You don’t need a lawyer to tell you that semi-trucks are dangerous. They’re huge, heavy, and capable of squashing your car like an insect. Thankfully, it’s possible to avoid many truck accidents by staying alert.
Below, you’ll learn about several common causes of truck accidents and how to stay safe when sharing the road with big rigs.
Drifting Off to Dreamland Behind the Wheel
Truck driver Tom hasn’t slept in nearly 24 hours. He knows the regulations that mandate regular breaks, but he has a delivery to make and an impatient boss breathing down his neck. Despite several cups of coffee, he succumbs to his drowsiness and drifts into the next lane. You can guess what happens next.
Driver fatigue is among the most common causes of truck accidents nationwide. Although trucking regulations require drivers to take breaks, not all do. To avoid drowsy driving accidents, look for trucks that are slowly drifting into your lane or moving erratically.
Phone Calls, Text Messages, and Movies: The Distractions Are Endless
Distracted driving is another major trigger of truck accidents. Truckers spend long hours on the road, so to ease the boredom, some chat on the phone, blast the radio, or even watch movies. The risk of an accident increases greatly when a trucker’s attention is divided between the road and their phone.
Give trucks a wide berth to avoid a distracted driving accident, especially if they’re moving oddly. And don’t allow yourself to become distracted by texts or phone calls, either.
The Need for Speed
“Speed limit? What’s that?” Jim jokes as he blasts down the highway in his semi. He has a delivery to make, and going 65 miles per hour just isn’t going to cut it. Suddenly, a car cuts in front of him, and there’s no possible way Jim can stop his multi-ton truck in time.
Glance out your window while on the highway, and you’ll likely see plenty of speeding trucks zipping past. Hefty semis take much longer to brake than passenger vehicles. To avoid a crash, don’t drive too closely in front of trucks. If the truck is riding your bumper, change lanes.
Watch Out for That Bulldozer
So far, on this list of common causes of truck accidents, we’ve only mentioned causes where the fault lies with the truck driver. But not all truck accidents are the driver’s fault. Sometimes, the city government or a construction company may be to blame.
For example, construction crews might leave equipment such as bulldozers and tools in the road or fail to put up signs warning drivers of work ahead. Potholes are another big cause of crashes.
To avoid road hazards, stay vigilant and drive at a safe speed.
Faulty Brakes and Blown-Out Tires
Trucker Sally’s employer was supposed to have her truck inspected before the next delivery but decided he couldn’t spare the time. While en route, her truck’s tire blows out. She loses control, and the truck tips over, skidding across the highway into the path of oncoming cars.
Brake failures are another big cause of truck accidents. As mentioned above, trucks can’t stop on a dime. Should the brakes fail, the resulting accident could be catastrophic.
You’ll have to rely on trucking companies to avoid accidents like these, as they are required to keep up with vehicle maintenance, which includes checking the engine, brakes, tires, and other key parts.
Cloudy With a Chance of Car Accidents
It’s pouring rain, and trucker Bob can’t see more than 10 feet in front of him. Still, he can’t make another late delivery, so he hits the gas and crosses his fingers. Bob’s luck runs out when he crashes into the back of a car that slams on its brakes.
Bad weather conditions are a major cause of truck accidents on city streets and highways. You can’t control the weather, but you can control your driving. To avoid a crash, drive slowly and stay aware of what other drivers around you are doing. Better yet, stay off the road until the weather clears up.
We’ll Help You Win a Fair Settlement for Your Truck Accident
Have you been in a collision due to one of these common causes of truck accidents? Our attorneys at Paynter Law understand what you’re going through. We are highly experienced in collecting evidence, proving negligence, and winning fair settlements for our clients. To date, we’ve won over $500 million in settlements and verdicts for accident victims.
For a free consultation, call (919) 245-3116.