What Causes Trucking Accidents?
Trucks comprise a tiny portion of the vehicles that travel on the roads but they can cause serious injury or death. Accidents involving large trucks can happen when drivers are distracted or fail to watch their blind areas.
Accidents in the trucking industry can also be the result of driver fatigue. modesto truck accident attorney work for long hours, without breaks, to meet their quotas.
Driver Error
Driver errors are the leading cause of trucking accidents and it is a very serious problem. There are many reasons that could contribute to driver errors, and it is important to understand what causes these errors and how to avoid them.
The most common driver errors include inattention, carelessness, distraction and drowsiness. These problems can be very risky, especially when they are paired with the huge size and weight of a truck.
Truck drivers, for example, often work long hours and do not get enough rest. Truck drivers are frequently under pressure from their employers to complete loads as quickly as they can. This can cause them to violate safety standards.
Another frequent error of drivers is driving under the impaired by alcohol or drugs. These drivers can cause serious car crashes and may even cause the death or injury of others.
Other driver errors include poor maintenance of vehicles and other parts and defective components which could result in a crash. All of these are serious issues that trucking companies should be addressing immediately.
In addition to these errors trucking accidents can also be caused by weather conditions, such as rain or slick roads. Truck drivers need to slow down when they encounter such conditions and be aware of the effects on their vehicles.
A recent study found that truckers who fail to fulfill these duties could be the cause of fatal accidents. It is essential that trucking companies ensure that their employees adhere to these safety standards in order they can safeguard themselves and their customers from these deadly accidents.
The study also found that certain drivers are more likely to commit these errors than others. This could be because they have a lower level of education or experience.
These findings can help reduce the number or crashes on the road as well as help trucking firms find ways to increase the safety of their drivers. The company can spot drivers who are susceptible to these kinds of errors and help them avoid mistakes in the future.
Mechanical Issues
Mechanical failure is a major cause of 10 percent of trucking-related accidents. This makes it even important that truckers are aware of the parts of their vehicles that are prone to fail.
Federal and state laws require commercial trucking companies regularly examine, repair, and maintain their trucks. These inspections are essential to prevent catastrophic accidents that could cause severe injuries or even death.
Transmission, brakes, and tires systems are all critical to the safety of a truck. If they malfunction, the driver may lose control of their vehicle and crash into other vehicles or pedestrians.
Blowouts, as well as other tire failures, are also common causes of trucking accidents. This is especially true in bad weather or on terrain that is uneven. They can trigger jackknifes as well as turns, which can lead to serious accidents.
The steering and suspension systems can also have an impact on the safety of the driver. These systems can fail as a the result of poor maintenance, heavy load or other reasons.
If a truck's parts aren't maintained and serviced regularly, they will wear out faster than expected. For instance when a truck's transmission isn't examined or serviced regularly then it could begin to break down and stop before the driver is aware of it.
The lighting system in trucks can also affect the safety of the driver. The lights may malfunction or get damaged, making it difficult for other drivers to see the truck and its cargo.
As the weather starts to cool down, it is important for truckers to make sure that their vehicle's lights are in working order. This will help prevent accidents when the road is covered with snow, rain or even sleet.
In some instances, a truck's lights can be damaged due to wiring issues or design imperfections. These issues could cause truck drivers to lose their focus and overlook a roadside hazard. These issues can also lead to deadly accidents, especially if the driver is fatigued or distracted by other things.
Overloading
Overloading of trucks is a serious problem that causes numerous trucking accidents. It can result in a wide range of accidents and fatalities for other motorists on the road.
Overloaded trucks are at greater risk of chance of falling over or being jackknifed. This can cause serious injury to any person on the road. Unsecured cargo can also spill out and cause other drivers to become obstructed on the road.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has imposed strict weight limits on commercial trucks to prevent accidents that occur during transport. These limits limit the truck's gross axle weight and the gross combination weight.
If a vehicle is overloaded and it is overloaded, it will have to slow down and brake more frequently to avoid a collision with another vehicle. A truck driver who is weighing too much might be less able than normally to steer the vehicle and could result in an accident.
This kind of trucking accident can be fatal, particularly if it occurs during an extreme downpour or snowy conditions. The extra weight puts additional stress on the brakes, and other parts of the truck. This causes them to wear out more quickly.
Tire blowouts can also be a sign of an overloaded vehicle. This is because the extra weight strains the tires to their limits, leading to an explosion and a loss of control.
Other signs that a truck is overloaded include sudden shaking movements, sagging or bowing in the trailer. It is essential to check the load prior to moving the vehicle away from the dock to load.
There are many reasons that trucks get overloaded such as business owners who want to reduce costs by reducing the amount of time required to transport cargo. Overloaded trucks could also be caused by inexperienced or untrained drivers.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident that was caused by an overloaded truck, it is recommended that you consult a lawyer to determine if it's appropriate to start an insurance claim. This can be a good way to ensure the responsible parties are accountable for the damage and losses.
Jackknife Accidents
Commercial trucks can be jackknifed in causing devastating injuries to accident victims. These types of accidents involving trucks happen more often than you may imagine, since trucks can weigh 80,000 pounds and have the ability to swing a trailer with a length of 28 feet at speeds that could destroy passenger cars and private property.
There are a variety of things you can do to prevent these truck accidents. First, if you reside in Hidalgo County or the state of Texas and have suffered serious injury in a jackknife accident and you are eligible, you could be able to seek compensation for your losses through assistance from a skilled trucking accident lawyer.
Drivers can also prevent jackknife accidents by making sure to slow down and allow trucks ample space to stop. This is particularly important on roads with a lot of ice, snow, or if they are wet.
Jackknife accidents can occur when commercial truck's brakes suddenly stop working and the driver loses control of the vehicle. A driver might misjudge an abrupt bend and speed up. This could result in the brakes to become locked. The truck may then jackknife while the trailer shifts towards one side or the other, causing damage to other vehicles in the area.
A shift in the cargo's weight within the trailer of the truck is a frequent cause of a jackknife crash. Experienced loaders carefully take their cargo off their trailers so that the truck and trailer remain balanced. However, if the load shifts dramatically this could cause the trailer out of balance and cause jackknife.
The driver of a truck that has been jackknifed could lose control of his truck and its cargo. This can result in major injuries, and the need for urgent medical attention, in addition to a substantial loss of wages or other compensation.
Despite the fact that a myriad of factors can cause trucks to jackknife the road, faulty road conditions are likely to be responsible. Ice, snow, rain, road spray, loose substances from the engine of the truck, tire kickup, and a variety of other environmental factors can all affect the road's traction and cause the truck to lose control.