Five common causes of road accidents involving trucks

Commercial trucks are so large that it is difficult for even the most experienced drivers  not to feel at least a little afraid when approaching the numerous 18-wheel trucks on the highway. The good news is that the Department of Transportation has strict rules about who can drive commercial trucks and how they must drive them. In other words, professional truck drivers know how to operate commercial trucks safely, and if they are caught taking risks while driving their trucks, they will not be allowed to keep their jobs. The bad news is that traffic accidents can happen for many reasons, which do not include gross errors on the part of any of the drivers involved. 

The worst thing is that if one of the vehicles involved in the collision is a commercial truck, then there is a high probability that several people will receive serious injuries, and there may even be fatal cases. People who have been injured in collisions with commercial trucks can usually recover their financial losses related to the accident, such as medical expenses. To do this, they can submit an application for insurance compensation under the policy of the company that owns the truck that caused or contributed to the accident. Contact a truck accident lawyer for compensation if you are experiencing financial difficulties after being injured in a commercial truck accident.

Dangerous conditions on highways

Many inexperienced drivers get into accidents in residential areas, at intersections or in parking lots in urban or suburban areas. One of the main reasons that these collisions usually do not result in serious injuries is that the vehicles involved were not traveling at very high speeds. Traffic lights, stop signs and relatively low speed limits prevent drivers in large and small cities from reaching the speeds at which the most destructive traffic accidents occur.  

Commercial trucks spend most of their time on the highway, which means that the traffic around them is either fast or dense. This increases the risk of collisions. Adverse road conditions, such as garbage on the road, construction work, rain, snow or fog, create an additional danger, which increase the likelihood of accidents involving trucks on intercity highways.

Collisions with a chain reaction

Accidents involving trucks often occur at high speeds or in heavy traffic, and sometimes in a combination of these factors. This increases the probability that more than two vehicles will be involved in the accident. In some cases, a truck driver may try to avoid a collision if the other driver makes a dangerous maneuver, but as a result, an accident involving three or more cars may still occur. Even if the truck did not come into direct contact with your car, you still have the right to file a truck accident claim.

Malfunctions of brakes of commercial trucks

Commercial truck brakes are different from passenger vehicle brakes, such as passenger cars. Truck brakes require more time and distance to stop the vehicle. Federal and state regulations require truck drivers to frequently check their brakes and other truck functions to prevent malfunctions that could lead to an accident.

Distracted driver

Distracted or drowsy driving is dangerous regardless of the vehicle, but it is especially dangerous when you are driving a truck weighing more than 13 tons. Mobile phones are not the only thing that can make a driver distracted. Simple fatigue or a long stay on the road can also prevent the driver from concentrating on driving.Federal and state laws limit the length of time truck drivers can work, including the number of hours they can drive without a rest break and the total number of hours they can work during a day or year. These rules may differ slightly depending on whether the trip takes place exclusively within one state or crosses its borders.If it’s an interstate trip, the provisions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act apply, even if, for example, the trip was primarily in Georgia and only briefly crossed Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, or Tennessee.

Accidents related to alcohol or drugs

Alcohol, prescription drugs that make driving unsafe, and illegal drugs play a role in a disproportionately large number of traffic accidents that result in injury or death.Obviously, professional truck drivers should not drink alcohol or take prohibited substances while working. However, if this happens and leads to an accident, this is a clear case of negligence. Similarly, if someone drives a car on the highway while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and collides with a commercial truck, it can lead to a major multi-vehicle accident.

What to do if you are injured as a result of a traffic accident

If you were injured as a result of an accident involving a commercial truck, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses related to the accident, as well as for lost income during the time you were unable to work because of your injuries. In most cases, this does not require you to go to court or file a lawsuit, but you will need an attorney who specializes in personal injury cases. Such a specialist will help you submit an application to the insurance company of the party responsible for the accident, and also agree on compensation that will cover your losses and damage caused by the accident.