What Causes Truck Accidents?
There are many basic aspects of large commercial trucks that make them much more likely to crash, ranging from vehicle size to driver error to road conditions. In order to avoid these accidents, understanding the exact nature of truck wreck causes is essential. For that reason, our lawyers at Bennerotte & Associates, P.A., have compiled a quick overview (below) of the top reasons these accidents happen so that you can take steps to drive defensively.
Driver Problems
Truck drivers are supposed to be highly trained and well rested when they take on their runs. However, that may not always be the case. A driver can be:
- Improperly trained on their vehicle
- Distracted while driving
- Impaired by substances
- Driving on little sleep
- Aggressively driving to meet a schedule
Any of these factors can make a driver unfit to be behind the wheel. Often, due to the pressures and requirements of their work, a driver may experience more than one of these issues.
Cargo Problems
While a commercial truck vastly outweighs and outpowers other vehicles on the road, the weight of the loads they haul is often much greater. Packing a truck is essential to meet federal regulations and make the truck more easily controllable.
Trucks are often overloaded or carry imbalanced loads. This situation is often outside the driver’s control and may only be apparent once the vehicle is on the road and already in a tricky situation.
Mechanical Problems
Proper maintenance on any vehicle is the number one way to keep the unexpected from happening. However, maintaining a commercial truck is costly, and shipping companies do everything they can to save money. Sometimes, though, it is at the cost of the safety of their vehicles and the risk of injury to people.
Road Problems
Roads are a great variable. Some roads are well kept, well plowed and in overall good condition. But this is Minnesota, and as anyone who has driven through Eagan in winter can tell you, there’s often a lot of instability. If driving and traffic conditions are impassable for a small vehicle, just imagine what they can be like for a 15-ton tractor-trailer.
Understanding The Risk Factors May Not Save You From An Accident
Knowing the signs of a truck in a precarious position can do a lot to keep you from having an accident. However, there are no guarantees. If you ever get into an accident with a commercial vehicle, turn to Bennerotte & Associates, P.A., to get a skilled, thorough attorney on your side. We offer free consultations and will schedule a meeting with you at our office in Eagan. You can call 651-364-6807 or send an email to get started.