What Causes Trucking Accidents?
Trucks constitute a tiny portion of the vehicles on road however, they can be dangerous and cause severe injuries or even death. brownsville truck accident lawyers involving large vehicles can occur when drivers become distracted or don't pay attention to their blind areas.
Accidents involving trucks can also be the result of driver fatigue. These drivers typically work for long hours without rest breaks to meet their quotas.
Driver Error
Driver error is the number one cause of trucking accidents, and it is a very serious issue. There are a myriad of reasons that could contribute to driver errors and it is crucial to know the cause of these mistakes and how to prevent them from happening.
The most frequent mistakes made by drivers include carelessness, inattention distraction and drowsiness. These types of issues can be extremely risky, especially when they are paired with the enormous size and weight of a truck.
For example truck drivers work long hours without taking enough time to rest. Truck drivers are often under pressure from their employers to complete loads as fast as they can. This can lead them to disregard safety standards.
Another common error made by drivers is driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These drivers could cause serious car accidents and even kill or harm others.
Other driver mistakes can be caused by improper maintenance of vehicles and other parts as well as defective pieces that could lead to a crash. All of these are serious problems that trucking companies need to be addressing immediately.
Trucking accidents are also caused by weather conditions, such as rain or slippery roads. Truck drivers must slow down when they encounter these conditions, and they must be aware of how the conditions affect their vehicles.
Recent research has revealed that truckers who don't perform in their duties could be at fault for fatal crashes. It is therefore crucial for trucking companies to ensure that their employees comply with these safety standards in order to protect their customers and themselves from deadly accidents.
The study also found that certain drivers are more prone to make these mistakes than others. This could be due to their lower level of education or experience.
These findings could help reduce the number of accidents on the road, and can also assist trucking companies discover ways to increase safety for drivers. Drivers who are susceptible to these types of errors are identified and the company can be more likely to educate them in a way that they can avoid making these mistakes in the near future.
Mechanical Problems
While driver error is the primary cause of trucking accidents, 10 percent of these accidents also involve mechanical malfunction. This makes it more crucial that truck drivers are aware of the components of their vehicles that could fail.
State and federal laws require commercial trucking companies to regularly inspect, repair and maintain their trucks. These inspections are essential to prevent serious accidents that can cause severe injuries or even death.
Tires, brakes and transmission systems are all essential for the safety of trucks. If they malfunction the driver could lose control of their vehicle and collide with other cars or pedestrians.
Blowouts and other tire failures are also a frequent reason for trucking accidents, especially in bad weather conditions or when the terrain is uneven. They can result in jackknifes and swerves, which could result in serious accidents.
Other parts of a truck that can impact on driver safety include steering and suspension systems. They can malfunction because of improper maintenance, a heavy load or other causes.
If a truck's components aren't maintained or serviced regularly, they can wear out much faster than you would expect. For example that if the transmission isn't inspected or serviced frequently and it starts to fail and then stall before the driver even realizes it.
The lighting system of trucks can also affect the safety of the driver. The lights could malfunction or become damaged causing other drivers to have difficulty recognizing the truck and its contents.
Truckers should inspect their vehicle's lights as the weather turns cooler. This will help prevent accidents when the road is covered in snow, rain or even sleet.
In certain situations the truck's lights may fail due to faulty wiring or design imperfections. These issues can cause a driver to lose visibility and miss a hazard on the the road. These issues can cause fatal accidents, particularly when a driver is fatigued or distracted.
Overloading
Overloading trucks is a major issue that can lead to a variety of accidents involving trucks. This can result in serious injuries and even death to other motorists on the road.
Overloaded trucks are at greater risk of chance of falling over or becoming jackknifed, which can cause serious injury to any person on the road. Unsecured cargo can also spill out and cause other drivers to be obstructed on the road.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has imposed strict weight limits for commercial trucks to help prevent accidents involving trucks. The weight limits are set to limit a truck's gross combined weight and gross axle weight.
A truck that is overloaded will require braking and slow down more often to avoid a collision. The driver of a truck with a heavy load could also be less in a position to steer which could result in a crash.
This kind of trucking accident could be fatal for anyone driving and especially during a stormy rainstorm or in snowy conditions. The additional weight also places additional stress on the brakes and other components of the truck, causing them to wear out faster.
Tire blowouts are a common indication of an overloaded truck. This is due to the fact that the additional weight stretches the tires to their limits, which causes the blowout and loss of control.
Other indicators that a vehicle is laden with too much are sudden, shaking movements, bowing or sagging on the trailer. It is crucial to inspect the load before moving the truck off the loading dock.
There are a variety of reasons that trucks get overloaded such as business owners who want to save money by reducing the amount of time needed to move cargo. Overloaded trucks can also be caused by inexperienced or untrained drivers.
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident that was caused by an overloaded truck, it is recommended that you consult with a lawyer to determine whether it is appropriate to start an action. This could be a good way to ensure that the responsible parties are accountable for the damage and losses.
Jackknife Accidents
Commercial trucks are prone to jackknife and cause catastrophic injuries to the victims of accidents. These trucking accidents are more frequent than you think. Trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, and can move a trailer up to 28 feet at speeds that could cause damage to private property and passenger vehicles.
There are a variety of ways to prevent these truck accidents. First, if you live in Hidalgo County or in the state of Texas and have suffered a serious injuries in a jackknife crash, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for your losses with help from a skilled trucking accident lawyer.
Drivers can also avoid jackknife collisions by making sure to slow down and allow trucks plenty of room to brake. This is especially crucial on roads that have lots of ice, snow, or if they are wet.
If the brakes of commercial trucks stop working abruptly, the driver may lose control of the vehicle. For example, a driver might mistakenly judge a sharp curve and speed up and the brakes to lock up. The truck could jackknife if the trailer is being pushed to one side. This could cause damage to other vehicles.
A shift in the cargo's weight within the trailer of the truck is another frequent cause of a jackknife crash. Professionally trained loaders take their cargo off their trailers so that the truck and trailer are in a balanced position. If the load shifts dramatically the trailer could be out of balance and jackknife.
The driver of a trailer that is an jackknifed cylinder could lose control over his vehicle and cargo. This could lead to serious injuries and the need for extensive medical attention and a loss of wages.
Despite the fact that a variety of factors can cause trucks to jackknife on the road, poor road conditions are likely to be at fault. Road sprays, loose materials from a truck's engine and tire kickup are all elements that can make the truck to lose control.