Commercial drivers have a legal obligation to drive safely on the roads to protect themselves, the public, and any cargo they’re holding. However, instances of truck accidents are on the rise, and it’s largely due to driver negligence. Below, we discuss why unsafe driver behavior can cause truck accidents.
Most Common Types of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are often more devastating than any other type of collision because of the sheer size of the vehicles. According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) statistics, more than 13% of all fatal road accidents in the US involve truck drivers. Here are the most common types of truck collisions:
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Rollovers
- T-bone accidents
- Jackknife
- Wide turning accidents
- Sideswiping
Truck Driver Responsibilities
Truck drivers and logistic companies have an obligation to ensure vehicles act in accordance with the law. There are a number of different safety responsibilities that truck drivers should follow. For example, the FCMSA has set regulations for working hours, and truckers need to follow these laws.
Truck drivers must conduct regular maintenance checks while out on the road, and then stop if they find anything out of the ordinary. In most cases, they need to keep logs of every check and reported issue. If a truck isn’t well maintained, it’s more likely to fail on the road and cause a truck collision.
Trucks often carry heavy hauls that have to be loaded into the cargo hold correctly. If an item comes loose while on the road, the vehicle may have control issues, which can lead to a crash. In most cases, the truck will be loaded by the logistics company, but the truck driver still needs to carry out checks.
Even though many of the poor truck driver behaviors come from ignoring safety procedures like regular maintenance, others simply have no regard for road safety. For example, if a trucker chooses to speed, they’re much more likely to cause a fatal crash.
Many truck drivers are under a lot of stress to make long journeys, and this can harm their mental health. In some cases, truck drivers turn to drug use to keep them awake. However, when a driver is under the influence, there’s a high chance they’re going to cause a crash.
The Behavior of Other Drivers
Up to this point, we’ve assumed that truck accidents are always caused by truck drivers’ dangerous driving, but this simply isn’t true. If a regular driver chooses to act recklessly, like speeding down the highway, then they’re just as likely to cause a collision involving a truck.
Truck Accident Liability
Several different parties can be liable for a truck accident. It starts with the drivers involved in the accident. Then, the employer and loaders may have played a hand in the driver’s negligence. If liability can’t be found here, there’s a chance that the truck manufacturers or owners are to blame.
Poor truck driver behaviors are the primary reason for the rise in collisions, but it isn’t always the truck driver at fault. If you’ve been in a truck collision, contact us at Denmon Pearlman Law. Our law firm addresses can be found below:
- Tampa – 2504 W Crest Ave, Tampa, FL 33614
- Petersburg – 520 2nd Ave South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
- New Port Richey – 5703 Main Street, New Port Richey, FL 34652
- Brooksville – 1790 E Jefferson St., Brooksville, FL 34601
- Seminole – 5290 Seminole Blvd. Suite D, St. Petersburg, FL 33708
Call now for a free consultation on (800) 800-4300.