Why Driver Error is the Biggest Cause of Trucking Accidents
Accidents involving trucks can cause serious injuries to anyone affected.
If you're interested to learn more about your legal rights after a trucking accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney. They can help you obtain the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses.
Driver Error
A truck accident may be caused by many factors, but the biggest cause of most accidents is the driver's error. In fact, a research conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that driver error was responsible for 87% of accidents that were studied!
This is among the primary reasons it is essential to obtain legal representation if you are involved in a collision with a truck. A qualified lawyer can help you get compensation for your injuries and other damages.
An attorney will begin by collecting evidence to determine the reason of your trucking accident. This could include reviewing the history of maintenance on the truck, getting an expert opinion on the mechanical condition of the truck, and even getting the trucking company's logs, which is required by law.
Another important step is to determine if the driver was in violation of the hours-of service regulations. These laws govern the length of time the truck driver is allowed to operate their truck and also how long they can rest before returning to work. If a trucker is in excess of the limits of the FMCSA, they can be held accountable for any damage they cause in an accident.
Accidents involving trucks are also caused by fatigue. Fatigue can cause a trucker to be less responsive to an emergency and could lead to dangerous errors, such as following too closely or driving too fast in adverse weather conditions.
Driver distraction is another common reason for trucking accidents. Eating, texting, daydreaming or using the phone, or using navigational devices like GPS and maps can all distract a truck driver away from driving and make it difficult to react to situations.
Other factors that could cause driver error are improper loading, fatigue, and speeding. If a driver is distracted in any way, they are more likely to become distracted and miss gaps, fail to notice warning signs of imminent danger, and even panic or freeze in a crash.
While these mistakes can occur to anyone however truck drivers are more likely to make mistakes. This is because they are operating a large powerful vehicle that demands more attention than smaller passenger vehicles. In addition, they are under greater pressure to deliver their cargo on time.
Improper Loading
Improper loading of trucks is a major contributing factor to many truck accidents. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the trucking industry through establishing the hours of service, ensuring trucks are operating within weight and size limitations and instructing drivers on the proper methods for loading cargo safely.
Unfortunately, truck drivers frequently ignore these rules in order to get to their destinations quicker and avoid fines. They also fail to make sure they are safe when driving.
The results of accidents are not only dangerous for the persons involved in the crash, but they can also cause injuries and property damage to other motorists who share the road with a commercial truck. Truck accidents may involve the vehicle rolling over, jackknifing and colliding with other vehicles.
Drivers can also experience problems in braking or steering because of the weight of the load. This is particularly relevant if the load was not secured or shifted properly.
You must immediately seek medical attention if are injured in an accident involving trucks. An attorney for personal injuries can assist you in determining who is responsible and what compensation you are entitled.
Overloading a truck can affect its ability to stop on time, causing rear-end collisions as well as other traffic accidents. Overloading can affect how trucks drive, resulting in jackknifing or loss of control.
These problems can also be worsened by weather conditions like snow or rain on the tie-downs that secure cargo. This could lead to the bungee cords and ropes that hold equipment to the truck breaking or slipping and cause the cargo to fall off of the truck.
The unsecure cargo that falls off a truck could cause serious injuries or even fatalities to those who are in its path. A Massachusetts attorney can help know the legal responsibilities of all participants in an accident which involves a vehicle that has been improperly loaded.
If you've been injured in an accident involving the truck that was loaded incorrectly, you should seek compensation for your loss. Based on jacksonville truck accident attorney You Tube of your case, you could be entitled to receive monetary compensation for medical expenses as well as lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.
Tire blowouts
A tire blowout during an accident involving trucks could cause death or serious injuries. It could also scatter debris that could hit other vehicles in the road and cause an accident.
Low air pressure or worn tires, inattention to maintenance or inspection of the truck can all lead to blowouts. In many cases, these incidents could have been avoided if a driver or the trucking company had used standard procedures to avoid a blowout.
Federal law requires that truck drivers take breaks regularly and keep their trucks in good condition. Truck drivers are required to inspect their trucks thoroughly and immediately report any issues. In certain instances the trucking company might contract a contractor for repairs and inspections, and if it fails to meet the legal requirements in these areas they could be held responsible for any injuries that result from its negligence.
High speed driving is one of the main causes of trucking accidents that result in tire blowouts. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration truckers frequently exceed the safe limits of speed for commercial vehicles. This could cause tires to wear and cause them blow out.
A lawyer who is experienced in big rig accidents may be able to help you file a claim for compensation if you've been injured in a trucking accident triggered by an explosion. They can review your situation and determine who was responsible for the accident.
It is also important to determine who is responsible for the tire blowing out. If the tire manufacturer produced an incorrect tire, you could file a product liability claim against them.
After the blowout of a tire the driver could lose control of their truck as the vehicle becomes unstable. This could result in the vehicle rolling over, or even a crash with a jackknife.
A semi-truck or a large truck could blow up its tires and cause a change in vehicle's weight and stability. This can cause the cab to snap or the truck to tip over and cause serious injury.
It is essential to remember that a tire blowout may happen at any time and anywhere. The most important thing to remember is that the industry of trucking is heavily regulated, therefore it is essential to adhere to all traffic laws and maintain your personal vehicle to avoid injury in a trucking accident.
Squeeze-Type Accidents
Contrary to passenger cars commercial trucks, such as semi trucks 18 wheelers, semi trucks and tractor trailers require specific maneuvering on the road due to their weight and size. Truck drivers are concerned about the security of these vehicles as well as their ability to avoid falling over.
Squeeze play accidents happen when a vehicle that is a passenger gets caught between a large tractor trailer or truck and the curb, wall or other roadway barrier as it tries to overtake the driver of a large rig in a turn. This can lead to serious injuries and property damage - especially for smaller vehicles.
Trucks need plenty of space to maneuver in order to avoid this kind of accident. It's also crucial to be attentive to the signals of truck drivers and make sure that they're not making an unintentionally wide right turn which is usually the cause of squeeze play accidents.
Another reason to be wary around large rigs is the fact that their cabs are extremely high. This can make it difficult for other drivers to see them in their blind spots. Drivers could be mistakenly passing a large rig right even though the truck is turning left.
This can result in an asymmetrical collision, where the vehicle in front of the truck hits the side of the big rig. The truck is then forced to swerve into other lanes, leading to multi-vehicle pileups and additional damage to the truck, occupants of both vehicles as well as other motorists.
A personal injury lawyer who has years of experience handling these cases is a good option if you've been injured in an accident with a truck due to a squeeze play. They will assess your case, determine if the truck driver is at fault for the incident and assist you in filing an injury claim in order to get compensation.