COMMON CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS: TRUCK DRIVER DISTRACTIONS, TRUCKING COMPANY NEGLIGENCE, AND BIG RIG DEFECTS

Like most auto accidents, collisions involving commercial vehicles are usually caused by a number of combined factors. Trucking company negligence, truck driver distractions, and big rig defects all play a role in the frequency of collisions. Carelessness on the part of passenger vehicle drivers should also be acknowledged, as people driving smaller cars tend to drive more aggressively around vehicles that are moving slowly. Everyone shares responsibility in keeping our highways safe.

The following factors have been identified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as primary causes for trucking accidents:

• Poor decision making - Truck and passenger vehicle drivers must pay attention and respond appropriately to road conditions such as rain, snow, ice, etc. They must also be sure not to follow too closely, pass other vehicles when it is unsafe to do so, or drive too aggressively.
• Truck driver distractions - Fatigue, illness, cell phone use, or drug and alcohol use are all significant impairments to safe driving. Truck drivers have the responsibility to avoid such distractions or, in the case of illness, adequately recover before returning to work.
• Trucking company negligence - Often employers pressure truck drivers to continue driving past the point of exhaustion and accept heavier workloads than they can safely handle. Driving while excessively fatigued is just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol.
• Big rig defects - Common defects can include malfunctioning tires, brakes, and mirrors, as well as other structural flaws in the vehicle. Often these defects go undetected until an accident occurs.

Other factors that can cause personal injury or wrongful death in an auto or trucking accident include:

• Rollover
• Seatbelt Defects
• Lack of Crashworthiness
• Other Defective Product

Truck drivers, trucking companies, and big rig manufacturers are well aware of the risks and prevention factors involved in their trade. Still, many of those in the trucking industry ignore safety precautions for the sake of saving time and reaping larger profits. If you or someone you love has been injured because of truck driver distractions, trucking company negligence, or big rig defects, please contact Timothy H. David, P.A., for a case evaluation.