How Many Accidents Are Caused by Semi Trucks, and What Are the Common Causes?

Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents

While any crash involving a big truck is likely to be more damaging than a crash with smaller vehicles, many of these fatalities and other catastrophes are caused by negligence or even recklessness on the part of the driver, their employer, or another entity involved with the truck itself.

Fatigue

Despite strict rules regulating how long drivers are permitted to drive without rest, many drivers do not follow them, often due to pressure from their employers. Driving while fatigued is sometimes because trucking companies demand delivery of goods within a certain time frame. Those deadlines may not be possible to meet without driving for extended periods without rest.

With poor or too little sleep throughout their journey, truckers can lose concentration and coordination while driving. In some cases, the driver may even fall asleep at the wheel.

Evidence of a truck driver being fatigued at the time of an accident isn’t the easiest thing to collect. However, working with a personal injury attorney means you have someone who knows where to look, such as driver logbooks and dash cam recordings. These are often complex and time-sensitive materials, and your lawyer will know how to navigate that system and make sure the evidence is preserved before it can be destroyed by the trucking company.

Speeding

Because trucking companies often require drivers to reach specific destinations within a specified time frame, many drivers end up speeding to reach their location on time.

When a commercial driver speeds, they put themselves and other drivers in grave danger. If a standard motor vehicle is hit by a semi-truck going at high speed, the result can be fatal.

A commercial truck’s sheer size (30,000 to 80,000 pounds) makes it that much harder to slow down or abruptly stop if needed. If a driver is trying to avoid an accident while speeding, even if their reflexes are sharp, the stopping distance may still be too long. The driver may end up veering into another lane or not be able to stop in time to avoid an accident.

Lawyers often work with expert accident reconstructionist to determine factors such as speed, another complexity that would be a lot to handle as an injured person.  

Substance Abuse

Some truck drivers turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with the demands of their job. While some only take these substances off duty, others abuse them while operating a commercial vehicle.

If a driver is impaired while driving, it’s all too easy for an accident to occur. When a driver’s full attention is not focused on the road, an accident can occur, causing harsh injuries and damages. Causing an accident while impaired will often lead to a criminal offense, loss of commercial driver’s license, job loss, and possible jail time.

Anyone injured by a truck driver under the influence should pursue compensation. The help of an experienced personal injury attorney increases your chance of getting the entirety of the money you deserve.