If you are someone who has been a victim of a truck accident or you have lost a loved one due to the consequence of truck accident injuries, you might be confused about where to turn for help. Since trucks are huge vehicles, colliding with them generally leads to serious injury and even fatality. It is particularly scary because most of them lead to death or critical injuries to victims.
Apart from the weight issue of commercial trucks, the driver in a truck is riding high up in the cab while the driver in other passenger cars is much lower towards the ground. Let’s talk about the most common reasons behind truck accidents and how they can be avoided.
Table of Contents
1. A tired driver
You ask a truck accident lawyer in OC and he will tell you that fatigue and tiredness are probably the biggest reason behind truck accidents on the roads of America. A truck driver is usually under high pressure as he has to maintain the deadline of transporting goods within a certain period of time. Trucking companies often demand drivers to deliver goods to a long distance within a very short span of time. This means the driver has to drive with very few breaks and little rest. Lack of sleep causes fatigue which in turn leads to a lack of concentration and coordination. Therefore it is highly important for the driver to get enough sleep before he sits at the driving wheel.
2. Overtaking and speeding
There are times so when it is physically impossible for a driver to make a delivery within the allotted time but still, they are forced to try anyway. Due to this excessive pressure of meeting tight deadlines, a driver often drives faster than the speed he should maintain considering the size and weight of his vehicle. Since a driver is constantly concerned about losing his job in case he is unable to deliver on time, he starts crossing this speed that he is supposed to maintain. This habit often leads to inevitable 18-wheeler truck accident.
3. Poor maintenance of the truck and training of the driver
There are certain requirements and regulations that need to be followed regarding the number of hours of training a driver needs to complete before he starts operating a commercial vehicle. Yet it is seen that drivers manage to get on the road even before they meet these requirements. Bad weather can happen anywhere but you need to have ample experience and training to overcome the risks and challenges of bad weather. Therefore, it is crucial to complete your training by working with a personal Injury attorney OR as a commercial truck driver and also maintain the proper safety of your vehicle to prevent accidents.
Mistakes can happen but truck drivers need to ensure that they commit the least errors in order to protect their life and the life of other co-passengers. Follow the truck driving safety tips mentioned above if you want to stay away from severe injuries that can change your life forever.