Common Causes Of Truck Crashes Resulting In Personal Injury
Posted on: 6 May 2021
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Commercial trucks are involved in half a million car accidents each year in the United States, including about 5,000 that result in fatalities. Due to the massive size and weight of these trucks and their cargo, victims of truck accidents can suffer serious, debilitating injuries. Some crashes are simply accidents, but it's not uncommon for a truck driver's negligence to cause a crash. If you were injured in a truck accident, your personal injury lawyer may investigate to see if one of the following common causes was responsible for the accident.
Fatigue
Truck drivers face demanding schedules and are often on the road for hundreds of miles a day. Although federal regulations require truck drivers to take breaks after a certain number of hours, this doesn't mean the drivers are always well-rested. A truck driver who is sleep-deprived or who is driving at night may feel fatigued, which can impair reflexes and reaction times. Fatigued drivers can even fall asleep at the wheel for a few seconds; at highway speeds, this might equate to traveling hundreds of feet without their eyes on the road. It only takes a split second for a serious car accident to occur, causing personal injury to others on the road.
Distraction
Truck drivers often take phone calls from dispatchers and cargo companies to coordinate deliveries while they're behind the wheel. However, phone calls aren't the only distractions that can lead to truck accidents. Anything that either mentally or physically distracts a truck driver is dangerous. This can include changing the radio station, unwrapping and eating food, or even just getting lost in thought during hours of monotonous driving. A personal injury lawyer investigating the accident might look at phone records and other evidence to determine if a truck driver wasn't paying attention just before an accident occurred.
Mechanical Issues
Truck drivers and the companies that employ them are responsible for ensuring that each truck is fit to be on the road. This includes checking brakes, engines, tires, cargo-securing devices, and other vital components. If an investigation determines that a mechanical issue caused the truck accident that injured you, the trucker or their employer might be held negligent for not inspecting or repairing the issue.
If you're recovering from a severe truck accident, you might be facing mounting medical bills, extensive time off work, and emotional trauma. Your personal injury lawyer can help you determine a fair amount of compensation to seek and work to negotiate a settlement. If it can be proven that the trucker was negligent, you could win your case and be compensated for these damages.