The Five Leading Reasons Tractor-Trailer Accidents Happen
Collisions with commercial trucks often kill or severely injure drivers and passengers because of the vehicles’ huge sizes and excessive weights. Typical injuries include traumatic brain injury, damage to the spinal cord, broken bones, nerve damages, heart attacks, respiratory difficulties, and muscle damage. Many victims need a lifetime of medical care.
According to GTG Technology Group, truck accidents are often due to one of five reasons. The analysis is based on studies and analysis from the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) and other leading truck safety organizations
- Mistakes by the driver. Driver negligence is often due to driver fatigue. Trucking companies often push their drivers to drive long hours without enough rest. They put the money to be gained from extra profits ahead of the safety of the truck driver and the driving public. Drivers of 18-wheelers and other large trucks often cause accidents due to driving while distracted and driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Many drivers aren’t properly trained. The GTG revealed that car drivers often cause truck accidents, so truck drivers need to learn to drive more defensively.
- Improper maintenance of the truck. Commercial trucks must be regularly inspected before a new trip begins. When trucks with brake pads that are worn or trucks with inoperable windshield wipers are placed on the road, the trucking company deserves to be held liable for the wrongful deaths and injuries they cause.
- Defective equipment. If steering systems, fuel lines, or any big-rig part is defective and that defect causes harm; the manufacturers and sellers of the truck (or truck parts) can be held strictly liable. Product defects include faulty design, faulty workmanship, and improper instructions.
- Bad weather. Truck drivers are on the road in all seasons and all hours of the day. Oil slicks, pouring rain, the glare from sunshiny days, snow, and ice can easily cause the driver to lose control of his/her truck. Shipping companies and truck drivers should be prepared for bad weather. Truck operators need to drive much slower when visibility is poor. Semi drivers should understand how to brake to avoid hydroplaning, jackknifing, or skidding. Drivers should have sunglasses and visors for sunny days. Simple precautions can save lives.
- Faulty loading of cargo. If cargo isn’t properly secured or is overloaded, the truck driver can lose control of the tractor-trailer, semi, or other commercial truck. There are specific federal and Florida laws on the size, weight, length, height, and width limits of shipping loads. There are also rules and industry standards for properly securing loads, so the cargo doesn’t shift or spill while the truck is being driven.
Trucking companies should be aware of the new technologies that can help avoid truck accidents such as sensors and data analytics that can help the trucking company monitor the driver and the driver monitor truck performance.
Understand your rights. Often, injured drivers and passengers can file a claim against the trucking company as well as the faulty driver. Truck manufacturers may be liable. At Yeboah Law Group, our respected truck accident lawyers understand what’s needed to prove fault. We fight to get you every dollar of compensation you deserve. We represent clients injured across Florida including Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and South Florida. To schedule a free consultation now, please phone us at 954-764-2338 or complete our contact form.