Truckers are expected to drive cautiously and act responsibly at all times when operating a vehicle. This is expected of them by their employers, clients, and other drivers on the road. That’s why the industry of trucking is highly regulated. By the time they have earned the right to operate a vehicle weighing more than 10,000 pounds, they ought to be aware of what is expected of them.
Truck drivers take classes and engage in practical training. All of this so that they must master driving techniques, traffic laws, and safety issues to become eligible for a commercial driver’s license.
This way they become aware of the risks associated with operating a large vehicle and the potential for hurting other road users. However, some truckers continue to drive recklessly despite receiving thorough instruction, which contributes to countless incidents involving regular drivers.
If you’re someone who has been at the receiving end of the carelessness of some truck driver, truck accident lawyers can help you get to the core of the issue and understand how to approach the situation in court.
One key aspect to understand here is what caused the accident. Here are some of the most common causes:
1. Speeding.
Speed is a contributing factor in 26% of all incidents that result in fatalities, according to the National Highway Transportation Administration. It’s not enough for trucks to drive under the posted speed limit. Truckers who travel too fast for the weather or traffic circumstances cause issues. Truckers cannot merely follow the posted speed limit. Their ability to maneuver or stop is impacted by their speed and the weight of their truck.
According to the USDOT’s 2017 large truck crash data, truck drivers weren’t always speeding at the time of a collision. Nevertheless, death rates were greater between 40 and 75 mph.
Figuring out to what degree the speeding was at fault and making a compelling argument to the court is the role of truck accident attorneys.
2. Drunk Driving.
The latest data on a tractor-trailer and big single-unit vehicle accidents is provided in the US Department of Transportation publication Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts 2017. According to the data, 3.6% of the 4,600 truck drivers involved in fatal incidents had blood alcohol levels that were positive.
A further 2.5 percent had a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher, the legal limit in most jurisdictions for driving while intoxicated.
Truck drivers are aware of the risks involved in driving a big truck while intoxicated, but some nevertheless do it. All truckers must complete training in accordance with FMCSA CDL requirements in order to obtain a commercial driver’s license. The instructions go through the risks of drinking alcohol before driving throughout the guidebook.
When trucking business employees drive drunk, they bear some of the blame. Random alcohol tests must be performed by trucking companies. They must also take the necessary steps to keep drunk drivers off the road.
3. Exhausted Driving.
Like alcohol and narcotics, fatigue and insufficient sleep damage truck drivers. According to the NHTSA, it might be challenging for law enforcement to prove that a driver was driving while fatigued when the accident occurred. The NTSB considers fatigue-related accidents to be a widespread issue in transportation.
In their opinion, underreporting of sleepy driving occurs because there are no “telltale indicators” of it. Additionally, they clarify that poor sleep quality, internal conflicts, or health conditions can occasionally cause sleep deprivation.
When truckers have to cover great miles in a short amount of time, working nonstop is frequently the only option. Truckers can retain their productivity while driving without getting enough rest. Federal Hours of Service regulations set truck driver drive-time limits to reduce the danger of fatigued driving accidents. The regulations specify maximum on-hour and off-hour times as well as maximum drive-time limitations over a period of seven or eight hours.
4. Drugged Driving.
According to the website of the National Transportation Safety Board, drugged driving incidents are increasing more quickly than drunk driving. The majority of states have laws that forbid driving while under the influence of either legal or illicit substances. Enforcement is frequently a challenge. There are no established standards or tests to demonstrate drug impairment because there are so many distinct forms of drugs.
Given that there are so many distinct forms of drugs to identify, the laws governing them are also different. To properly guide victims through the process, truck accident attorneys are very useful and important.
5. Improper Cargo Securement.
An excavator being transported by a truck in Oceanside, California, collided with a flatbed truck that was stopped alongside the I-5. He subsequently lost control of his vehicle and rolled over a hill. His truck flipped over and started burning. Only minor injuries were received by the trucker. The driver of the stalled car had stopped to inspect his load. He wasn’t hurt at all.
It is generally the responsibility of someone else to load and secure the cargo. It is the responsibility of the trucker to ensure that his load is securely fastened because it impacts his safety. A shipper’s poor loading of a trailer or flatbed can occasionally cause an accident.
When cargo isn’t correctly fastened, it can occasionally move during turns, acceleration, and deceleration. Drivers frequently lose control when the fluctuating weight of their cargo tips their truck off balance, like in the example mentioned above.
Conclusion
Truck accidents have many different causes with many different parties potentially at fault. Now that you understand what the problems are you will have an easier time making an informed decision. If you live in Alabama, picking the right Alabama truck accident lawyer will make this process smoother for you.
They have the legal know-how on where to file the case, what are the relevant laws and statutes and basically have the expertise to help you. Personal injury lawyers do not have the same expertise levels as this specific subsection with this special expertise.
Understanding the value of an expert is very important and to understand their true worth, it does you some good to understand the complexities yourself.
Hopefully, this list was useful in helping you gain some knowledge about the causes of truck accidents.
