Accidents involving commercial trucks are far more dangerous than a typical motor vehicle accident. This happens due to a number of factors, though mainly due to the weight and the massive size of the truck. Truck accidents are serious in nature and often result in death or serious personal injuries to the occupants of the passenger vehicle/s that is/are in collision. Though, there are some measures you can take to help prevent truck accidents when you are on the road. Hence, it is important to understand the situations that most often lead to truck accidents..
Negligence on the road is common among all drivers, and, while truck drivers are no exception, it may surprise you to learn that studies show approximately 81% of truck accidents are actually caused by the passenger vehicles.
Other causes include:
One of the most common causes of trucking accidents is motor vehicles traveling in a truck’s blind spot. This is avoidable if you learn about the four most common blind spots. The spots include:
Trucks run many miles a day. The long time drive can lead to a high rate of wear and tear on these vehicles that require continual maintenance. Some maintenance concerns include:
Worn out brake pads:
Failure to regularly check and replace brake pads after running a certain mile is a common cause of truck brake failure.
Tire issues
Truck drivers are expected to check their tires before beginning every drive. Trucking companies take on heavier responsibility than individual drivers. They are obligated to replace tires that are worn out or defective. Unfortunately, this does not happen all the time, which leads to tire blowouts. Blown-out tires are one of the leading causes of truck accidents.
Cargo Overload
The trucking industry has very specific rules that the truckers must abide by when it comes to a commercial truck bed. There are length, height, width, and weight restrictions and limitations on the size of the load placed on the bed and also special methods to secure the cargo for transportation. Mistakes during the loading process can cause a load to pull into another traffic lane, resulting in an accident. The balance of the truck can be thrown off if the cargo is overloaded, is not properly loaded or if it is not balanced.
Drivers are also expected to check their trucks at the start of their shift and file a maintenance report. Unfortunately, drivers do not always follow these steps, and skipping them can sometimes be catastrophic.
Failure of Equipment
Since trucks feature a more complex braking system compared to regular motor vehicles, even the slightest glitch can cause the entire system to fail. This is different from faulty brake pads, where the issue is a design defect or product liability matter than a maintenance issue with the truck itself.
Many companies fail to properly maintain their trucks, which can result in equipment failure, especially when that equipment is needed the most. Manufacturers can also be held responsible for any negligent product defects that result in an accident. The manufacturers of vehicle parts, the company that sold the truck, the truck manufacturers, and the mechanic/installer who completed the truck repairs can all be held accountable. Even though safety inspections come under routine check in the trucking industry, some trucks pass inspection even when they shouldn’t. This means these trucks are unsafe on the road, exposing themselves and the passenger vehicles to danger, and there are accidents happening that could have been avoided. In such cases, Florida Truck Accidents Lawyer at Injury Assistance Law Firm backs you up with the best legal assistance to prove the negligence of the liable party or parties.
Inclement Weather
Trucks travel through the night in all kinds of inclement weather. Training and preparation to drive in such conditions should not be lightly regarded. Heavy rain, snow, ice, rain, fog, sleet, wind, and hail can create conditions that cause the driver to lose control of the truck, resulting in major accidents.
Lack Of Skill
Lack of experience in operating a large commercial truck is often the cause of many truck accidents. A commercial driver’s license is not too hard to obtain. A new truck driver certainly requires an adjustment period when developing the skills to maneuver such a large truck in challenging weather conditions across difficult and steep terrain.
The Personal Injury Attorney Orlando Residents Trust
The Personal Injury Attorney Orlando Residents Trust
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