Fatal Truck Accidents (Infographic)

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Driver Error

Truckers often engage in unsafe driving practices that result in making errors that lead to fatal road accidents. Some of the most common driver errors are the following:

• Distraction

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety (FMSCA) found that truckers are 23 times more likely to cause a crash when they’re texting while driving.

Commercial truck drivers need to keep their full attention on the road for safety. However, the long hours on the road and the remote or repetitive scenic areas make it easy for them to get the urge to engage in other activities to entertain themselves.

As a result, truck drivers partake in multi-tasking that takes their eyes off the road. Besides talking on cell phones, they also eat, fiddle with GPS systems, and use the CB radio all while driving, which are major distractions.

• Speeding

Speeding is never safe when driving, but it can veer beyond negligence into irresponsible recklessness for truck drivers who know it takes longer to slow down to stop than a passenger vehicle.

Since commercial truck drivers are often on a tight schedule, they are forced to rush to get to their destinations as quickly as possible. However, the weight of large commercial vehicles makes it difficult to slow down and to turn, especially at higher speeds.

• Drinking and Substance Use

Truck driving entails long hours of isolation that can bring about loneliness, boredom, and even depression for many truckers. Some truckers might find solace in alcohol or drugs during their desolate life on the road.

For others, substance abuse is a non-stop cycle that starts by using drugs to stay awake to drive longer and farther, then need alcohol or marijuana for sleep, and then begin the cycle once again by using more substance to ease a hangover and drive again.

It may be impossible for the truck driver to work without using some substance.

Continuous alcohol and substance intake come with several consequences, including impairing their ability to drive which can lead to an accident.

• Fatigue

The work of commercial drivers can be demanding, as they’re forced to work with unrealistic schedules and expectations from truck companies that lead to less than adequate sleep and a tendency towards ongoing fatigue.

According to the Transport Accident Commission, more than 20% of road fatalities were suspected of having resulted from fatigue. Drowsiness has a massive impact on your driving as it slows down your reaction time, reduces your concentration, vigilance, and judgment.

Vehicle Error

When there are vehicle-related errors, it doesn’t matter if a safe and rule-compliant trucker drives the truck. The truck can still cause a severe and deadly crash if there are problems with the large vehicle itself, including:

• Design Defects

Defective vehicles can cause accidents that can injure and kill innocent people. A manufacturer can make a mistake while building the truck which can be dangerous when these parts are essential for safety such as airbags, brakes, and tires.

These defects exist because sometimes the manufacturer makes a mistake while building the vehicle. Even when these parts are manufactured, installed, and used correctly, improper designs are hazardous.

• Maintenance Errors

Trucking companies, drivers, and maintenance crews need to regularly maintain the fleet to keep up with the immense wear and tear that these vehicles endure from being driven hundreds of miles every day.

Drivers that don’t perform daily inspections can overlook maintenance problems. Eventually, serious issues such as tire blowouts, braking problems, and engine failure can arise and lead to major traffic accidents.

• Cargo Issues

Truck drivers and commercial truck companies need to abide by the industry-specific rules and regulations for safe cargo loads. This includes limited cargo dimensions and how it should be loaded and secured.

These rules exist to try to reduce the chances of accidents happening due to problems with the cargo that a truck driver is transporting. Unfortunately, truckers don’t always follow the rules and load cargo in unsafe ways.

As a result, this creates a severe risk of truck collisions as improper load cargo can put the truck out of balance and cause harm to the truck driver and other motorists on the road.

You may also be asking yourself, “Is the trucking company responsible for my medical bills if I am injured in a truck accident?“