Tractor trailers and commercial trucks are the largest and heaviest vehicles on the road. They can cause devastating damage and injuries in accidents with small cars. Federal regulations provide safety standards that trucking companies and truck drivers must follow to reduce the risk of accidents.
However, truck drivers and transport companies sometimes disregard trucking regulations and cause crashes as a result.
The Sam & Ash Injury Law attorneys understand the consequences of a truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence. You may face mounting medical bills and missed work if your injuries are serious. Our attorneys can help you seek accountability. Call or contact us online today for a free consultation with a dedicated truck accident lawyer in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Where Do Most Truck Accidents Occur?
According to the National Safety Council, 54 percent of fatal truck accidents occurred in rural areas, and 73 percent occurred on non-interstate roadways.
You can learn how to avoid a truck accident by understanding why crashes occur. The most common truck accident causes include:
- Distracted driving – Operating a commercial truck requires focus. Any distraction can cause a trucker to fail to recognize dangerous road conditions, a car merging into their lane, a changing traffic signal, or a car braking ahead.
- Unsafe cargo loads – Overloading a commercial truck or improperly securing cargo can create an unstable load. Cargo may shift in transit and throw the entire vehicle off-balance, causing the truck driver to lose control.
- Fatigued or drowsy driving – Fatigue can impair any driver’s abilities and slow recognition of high hazards. Federal hours of service rules limit the number of hours that commercial truck drivers can spend driving each day and week and require mandatory rest breaks. Unfortunately, some truck drivers disregard the rules and drive while dangerously fatigued. A drowsy truck driver poses a risk to everyone on the highway.
- Poor truck maintenance – Truck drivers must inspect their vehicles regularly. Checking for defective parts is essential to ensure the truck remains mechanically sound. Skipping inspections or ignoring potential problems increases the risk of a mechanical malfunction contributing to an accident.
- Speeding and other reckless behaviors – Exceeding the speed limit and driving too fast for traffic conditions endangers the truck driver and everyone around them. In addition, high-speed accidents can be fatal due to the impact involved when an 80,000-pound truck collides with a smaller vehicle.
- Impaired driving – A truck driver may be impaired by alcohol or drugs, including over-the-counter medications that cause drowsiness. Any impairment can affect driving abilities, slow reaction times, and contribute to accidents. Truck drivers who drive while impaired should be held financially accountable for the harm they cause.
- Inadequate experience and training – Truckers need the training and certifications to drive commercial trucks. Operating certain types of trucks, such as tanker trucks, requires additional training and certification. An inexperienced driver may lack the hands-on experience to anticipate certain hazards.