How Trucking Accidents Occur
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Even though truckers are supposed to receive extensive training, some trucking companies fail to provide it. Driver error results in approximately one-fourth of all trucking accidents. Often, driver errors that cause truck accidents are due to companies imposing strict deadlines and attempting to skirt trucking regulations to maximize profits. Examples include:
- Not thoroughly checking each new driver’s background
- Inadequately maintaining big rigs
- Overloading trucks increases braking distance and complicates steering
- Imposing unrealistic deadlines, forcing drivers to speed or falsify logbooks
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established extensive trucking regulations to minimize the number of truck accidents. However, accidents still occur and are often caused by truck companies skirting these regulations.
After a big rig accident, you must contact an experienced truck accident attorney who can advise you on your legal rights. If you have a valid claim, it is best to start the investigation as soon as possible.
Truck Driver Negligence as a Cause of Truck Accidents
Truck driver error accounts for approximately one-fourth of all trucking accidents. Even though truckers are required to undergo extensive training, mistakes still occur on the roads. When they occur because a trucker ignores regulations, juries typically award more considerable amounts of compensation to victims. Some examples of truck driver negligence are:
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Forging truck logging sheets
- Driving more hours than legally allowed
- Not checking the truck’s load
- Reacting poorly to other driver decisions
Trucking Company Negligence Causing Truck Accidents
Trucking companies often impose unrealistic deadlines on drivers and break trucking regulations to maximize their profits.
Unnecessarily putting others at risk is inexcusable. Common examples include:
- Poorly maintaining 18-wheelers
- Imposing unrealistic schedules
- Hiring an inadequately trained driver
- Using a defective semi-truck
- Failing to investigate trucker backgrounds thoroughly
Other Common Truck Accident Causes
A variety of other factors can cause a big rig accident, including:
- Other driver errors, such as darting in front of a truck to exit a freeway
- Defective roadways
- Poor weather conditions
- Inadequate road signage or lighting
Negligence in Truck Accidents
Depending on the cause of a truck accident, one or more parties may be negligent in their professional duties and obligations, including:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The company that loaded the truck
- The big rig maintenance company
- Third-party vehicles
- Local government officials
What to do After a Truck Accident
The shock of being in a truck accident may affect your actions, but it is essential to take specific steps following a truck accident:
- Contact the police
- Accept medical treatment onsite
- Never give a written or verbal statement to insurance companies before consulting a truck accident attorney
Failure to take these steps could affect your ability to receive compensation for your injuries; compensation includes expenses such as the ones below:
- Medical costs, such as required surgeries, doctor visits, pain medication, hospitalization, and physical therapy (past and future)
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship and funeral costs, if the truck accident caused the wrongful death of a loved one
- Repair or replacement of your vehicle
- Loss of earnings, present, and future
- Diminished earning capacity
For more information, see Questions About Truck Accidents.
