What are the Leading Causes of Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents can be very catastrophic because of their huge sizes compared to average passenger vehicles. Therefore, it is important to know the common causes of truck crashes, so you can reduce the risk and stay safe while on the road, as provided by the Boca Raton truck accident lawyers at Kogan & DiSalvo in Florida.
Speeding
Speeding is very dangerous because it makes the huge vehicle react very slowly to fast changes in speed and direction because of the momentum it builds. This makes the drivers have less control and can result in crashes. Speeding is a reckless action, and all drivers guilty of speeding should be held accountable. If you have been involved in a crash caused by a speeding driver, reach out to an experienced attorney to explore your legal options.
Distracted driving
Distracted driving includes driving while texting, talking on the phone, eating, talking to passengers, or adjusting the music control. Drivers who take their eyes off the road for even a few seconds can cause vehicle crashes, resulting in multiple fatalities and thousands of dollars in property damage.
Fatigued driving
Many truck drivers have to drive for very long distances to reach their destinations and can easily become fatigued during the journey. Fatigued driving can cause crashes, and that is why regulations have been set up to keep fatigued truck drivers off the road to help them become alert while driving.
For instance, a commercial driver is not allowed to drive for more than 11 straight hours and is required to rest for 10 hours in-between. Unfortunately, some drivers fail to adhere to these safety measures because of their company culture, business scheduling practices, and individual motivations.
Severe weather
Severe weather conditions such as heavy rain, strong wind, fog, and snow can reduce a driver’s visibility on the road and make it hard for them to maintain control of their vehicles. Bad weather increases the risk of crashes.
Overloading cargo
Huge vehicles that carry large loads can have tire blowouts or may tip over when changing lanes or making a turn. Moreover, if the load is external, it may slip or fly out of the vehicle and into the windshield of other drivers. Flying cargo can also cause other drivers to swerve to avoid the debris, only to cause crashes and road obstructions.
Vehicle malfunction
Although a lot of truck crashes are caused by driver error, sometimes the truck can malfunction because of not being properly inspected or maintained. Some defective parts can also cause the vehicle to become unresponsive, such as brake failure, resulting in crashes.
Driving under the influence
Driving while intoxicated is a crime and can have adverse consequences for everyone who shares a road with the drunk driver. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the acceptable blood-alcohol concentration for commercially licensed drivers is 0.04%. Moreover, truck drivers are prohibited from consuming alcohol within 4 hours of driving company commercial vehicles and cannot take alcohol while working.
Other causes of vehicle collisions include poor lighting, obstacles such as road constructions, aggressive driving, and driver error. Many road crashes can be avoided if all drivers follow the traffic rules and drive safely.
