Causes of Truck Accidents

We’ve previously written about many topics, from car accidents to rollovers, wrecks, and fatalities. Here we look at truck accidents and how the truck’s cargo can actually contribute to, or even directly cause, an accident. Cargo is an important factor in accidents, and those injured in a truck should never overlook this critical component of the story.

But what are some other common contributors or causes of truck accidents?

Truck drivers aren’t always at fault. Sometimes other passenger vehicles drive in blind spots of the truck or brake suddenly after changing into the truck’s lane, causing the trucker to swerve and possibly jackknife. Motorists need to give large trucks, commercial trucks, semi-trucks hauling hazardous materials, and other commercial vehicles the respect they deserve. These commercial truck drivers normally do everything in their power to follow the laws of the road as well as the guidelines set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA.

However, plenty of circumstances make the truck driver or truck company culpable when a trucking accident occurs. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents to consider:

• The driver is human, and humans make mistakes. So maybe the driver was driving under the influence? Or was the driver suffering from driver fatigue from too many hours of service and fell asleep at the wheel?

Among the causes of truck accidents, long hours with no breaks for the truck driver of a large commercial truck can sometimes end in terrible ways; fatal crashes, rollovers resulting in catastrophic injuries, and more. Distracted driving can be just as deadly as driving under the influence, such as using their cell phone trying to make lane changes or not slowing down, resulting in a rear-end collision. Not following the speed limit, not using turn signals, or swinging out for a right turn can result in a large truck crash. If the truck driver does not adjust their driving style to accommodate weather conditions or road conditions, it can all lead to the loss of a loved one, regardless of the truck being driven. These are all instances of potential truck driver negligence and are some of the top causes of truck accidents. If this is the case, it may be worth checking to see if the truck driver and/or his or her trucking company did not follow other federal regulations and laws.

• What about the commercial vehicle itself? Was the big rig in proper working order? Did the truck company perform routine maintenance on the semi-truck and tractor-trailer? Was the truck driver aware of any mechanical issues with the vehicle that could lead to truck crashes from tire blowouts or bad brakes?
• There are also systemic problems with the trucking industry that may reward rushed truck drivers, which is one of the more common causes of truck accidents. Some truck drivers maintain unrealistic schedules. This can also contribute to a truck accident from long hours on the road or taking roadways that may not be suitable for large commercial trucks. The FMCSA and the NHTSA have guidelines for how commercial trucks and drivers should behave on the roadways.

Truck Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries

There are many reasons that truck accidents occur. When they do, the victims and their families should consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

The immense weight of a semi-truck, or big rig, can be as much as 30,000 lbs UNLOADED – that’s nearly six times as much as a normal passenger car, which means when there is a trucking accident, the potential for serious injuries is much higher.

Whenever you’re injured in a motor vehicle accident, you should seek legal advice, so you know your rights, and that becomes all the more important, the more serious your injuries are from the truck accident. Working with a law firm with experienced truck accident attorneys can help ensure you get the fair compensation you deserve for your serious injuries. 

You shouldn’t have to fight the insurance companies alone. The number of hours spent on the phone trying to get coverage for required medical treatment, property damage amounts, and other things that need to be addressed from a serious accident can be astronomical. When you work with one of our personal injury attorneys, you can rest easier knowing you have a law firm behind you with years of experience in dealing with insurance companies and how they operate.

Whenever a smaller vehicle is in an accident with a larger vehicle, there is a chance for tragedy. When that smaller vehicle is an average passenger car, and the larger vehicle is a semi-truck or tractor-trailer, the chances for significant damages, even wrongful death, are much higher, and you shouldn’t have to handle the pain and suffer the massive financial burden because of someone’s negligence.

Call the truck accident attorneys at Townsend Law, LLC, a Kansas City area law firm with years of experience in serious injury crashes. Our client testimonials and track record in truck accident cases can help give you peace of mind when you call today to schedule a free consultation with our truck accident lawyers.