Semi-truck accidents are very common. They cause severe damage to life as well as property. Call an injury attorney today to seek guidance about what to do if you are a semi-truck accident victim. These accidents take place for various reasons. The most common causes of semi-truck accidents are as follows.
- Human Error
Accidents caused by driver errors are the most common cause of semi-truck accidents. This involves collisions caused by speeding, failure to check blind spots before switching lanes, and confusion among drivers. Negligent driving, distracted driving, and driving under the influence are a few of the errors that lead to accidents.
- Overspeeding beyond the limit
The drivers are put under immense pressure to meet deadlines. The drivers tend to drive over the speed limit as their jobs are at stake. Overtaking by big trucks at neck-breaking speeds leads to fatal crashes with small cars. Over-speeding reduces the reaction time of drivers. Drivers might need to brake immediately or veer into another section of the road suddenly. Overspeeding makes this almost impossible.
- Brakes
Brake failure is common due to improper inspection, lack of maintenance, or overheating. Drivers are responsible for their brake conditions and maintenance. In brake failure, more than one party can be responsible. Manufacturers and designers can also be liable if the breaks have a design defect.
- Tires
With excess riding of tires over time, tire blowouts sometimes occur, causing harm to safety. Design defects and poor maintenance can cause severe destruction to tires and drivers.
- Fatigue
Fatigue among drivers is a severe issue in the trucking industry. They have incredibly long hours of work and demanding schedules. They often force themselves to stay awake instead of taking breaks and getting enough rest. Additionally, their compensation encourages driving faster and longer than what is considered safe. They drive in potentially unsafe situations to meet deadlines. This leads to losing focus and hazardous driving, ultimately causing crashes and accidents.
- Driving Under the Influence
It is illegal to drive under the influence of any illicit substance. But still, many truck drivers are found guilty of using alcohol and other drugs when they are on the road. These substances impair the ability of the driver to handle large vehicles properly and cause accidents.
- Lack of necessary training
There is a tremendous demand for drivers, but often the trucking companies fail to provide enough training to the drivers. This causes dangerous and fatal accidents as the drivers lack the required skills. Also read about the skills and requirements of the truck drivers, food scientists and more from How many jobs are available in basic industries?
