Major truck accidents happen every day across the nation. These accidents also lead to many fatalities, injuries, and property damage. If you are driving a large truck, you must be aware of these critical factors to avoid them and reduce your likelihood of being involved in a severe or fatal accident. In addition, studies show that many motor vehicle accidents are caused by driver errors, such as fatigue or using a cellular phone while behind the wheel. You can prevent these types of accidents with information from this article. However, you need to know that other significant factors can play.

In massive truck accidents, most people blame the truck drivers. However, they are not always fully responsible for other motorists’ material damages or injuries. Truck crashes victims’ attorneys conduct thorough investigations to determine the liable party or parties. According to a truck accident attorney from Bader Scott, in most civil cases involving truck accidents, the ones that need to pay most damages are trucking companies, vehicle manufacturers or truck part manufacturers, and even local governmental agencies. But let’s take things one at a time. Here are the most common causes behind major truck accidents!

1: Fatigued Driving

Most people do not realize that there are many accidents involving large trucks. Many of these accidents happen late at night and in the early morning hours. Most truck drivers try to drive between 9:00 pm and 5:00 am to avoid traffic and keep up with the federal regulations regarding Hours of Service. However, they may need to drive during daylight hours to recover from traffic delays, or their company might push them to work more to meet schedules, deadlines, and even payment thresholds. If a fatigued driver caused a truck accident, the trucking company might become part of the claim or lawsuit to pay victims compensation.

2: Poorly-maintained Vehicles

When you drive a large truck, you need to have it inspected regularly. The wear and tear can make the vehicle unsafe to operate. Changing spare parts and having specialists look into all truck problems is also mandatory. In truck accidents, skipped or incomplete vehicle maintenance by the driver or the trucking company is usable in a claim or lawsuit.

3: Failure to Heed Road Signs

Drivers must pay close attention to road signs. It is a significant violation to fail to heed these signs or drive outside the traffic laws of that specific road or region. Drivers also need to pay close attention to their truck’s front and rear indicators. Traffic law violations are severely punishable, especially if you cause an accident.

4: Distracted Driving

Driving while using a cell phone or other electronic devices can increase your chances of accident involvement. They may also take your attention away from critical driving tasks, such as changing lanes, slowing down, and following road signs.

5: Overweight Trucks

Some truck drivers carry excess weight. They may do this because they are trying to save money by avoiding fees for the extra weight or because their employers instruct them to do so. It can be a problem because it will increase the stress on the vehicle and tires, which may lead to an accident. Some laws dictate how much weight your truck may carry. If your company breaks those laws, they may also have to pay accident compensation to potential victims.

6: Driving Under the Influence

Driving while intoxicated is dangerous and, most of the time, fatal. It is essential that you do not drink and drive and never get behind the wheel if you have been drinking. Some drivers use drugs and prescription medications to stay awake on the road and keep up with their tight schedules. If you are taking prescription medication for a current illness, you may need to have someone else drive for you. You may also want to check with your doctor to see the safest driving conditions when using the medication.

7: Other Drivers’ Recklessness

If you are driving at night and there are other drivers on the road that are not obeying traffic laws, it could lead to a significant accident. Drivers must stay alert to avoid distracted driving, especially at night. If you engage in an accident caused by someone else, your attorney will fight for your rights to obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages.

8: Road Hazards

Many things can lead to road hazards. For example, if you drive on bad roads, you may damage your vehicle or tires. It may be a contributing factor to a significant accident. If the poor road conditions led to your accident, your attorney would most likely sue the parties responsible for that road’s maintenance and safety. Such lawsuits take time, but potholes and sunken roads are not your faults. Of course, you must take care of your vehicle and tires to remain appropriately maintained until the end of their useful life. You need to do everything to stay safe and protect other motorists even if the road is bad.

9: Severe Weather Conditions

If you are driving in hot or cold weather conditions, staying alert and attentive on the road can be difficult. The weather can also cause other drivers to behave differently on the road. If you are driving in these severe conditions, you may need to be extra cautious and watch for other drivers who may be tempted to speed, slow, or lose control of their vehicles because of the weather.

10: Uneven Tires/Lack of Tire Pressure

Some large trucks have tires that are not balanced properly or do not carry enough air pressure. It can lead to your vehicle losing traction on the road and increasing the risk of serious accidents. Therefore, it would be best to keep your tires properly maintained and inflated to remain safe on the road.

Bottom Line

Many factors can lead to a severe accident involving a large truck. You must avoid these factors to drive safely and reduce your risk of being involved in a significant or fatal truck accident. If you get into a truck accident as a driver, get immediate medical attention and contact an attorney. They will advise you on how to proceed, what to tell your employer, and how to deal with insurance companies.

As a journalist, Leland D. Bengtson dedicated most of his career to law reporting. His greatest satisfaction is to convey legal matters to the public in a language that they can understand. He is active on various platforms and media outlets, writing about common legal issues that people confront with every day. While medical malpractice is his strong suit, Leland covers plenty of other topics, including personal injury cases, family law, and other civil and even criminal legal matters.