5 Factors that Contribute to Truck Accidents

Truck accidents frequently result in serious injuries and fatalities. A fully loaded semi-truck may weigh up to 80,000 lbs. compared to the average weight of a passenger vehicle, which is just over 4,000 lbs. If you are in a car and get hit by a loaded semi-truck, there is about a 20 to 1 size difference based on weight.

Here are the five factors that contribute the most to truck accidents

Distracted Driving

The truck driver, and the other vehicle drivers, may be distracted and not paying close enough to their driving and traffic conditions. Distractions that should be avoided are using a mobile phone while driving and texting while driving.

If there is a media device, such as a radio or media player, drivers must be extra careful when adjusting it.

Following Too Close

The heavy weight of a truck means that it takes a long time to stop. Following a vehicle too closely may cause an accident if the traffic suddenly slows or stops and the truck driver cannot brake and stop in time.

Bad Weather

Low visibility from severe weather storms and icy roads are major causes of truck accidents. There is a particularly bad form of ice that is called “black ice,” which forms on the roadway underneath an overpass. It is called “black” because a driver cannot see it.

Trucks that hit a patch of ice, which is slippery, will continue to move in the direction they were going because of momentum. Steering and braking may be ineffective. The driver may be unable to change the sliding truck’s path. The truck can slide off the road, slip sideways into other vehicles going the same direction, or hit oncoming vehicles coming from the opposite direction.

Mechanical Failures and Load Imbalance

The common mechanical failures are losing the ability to brake properly and tire blowouts. The risk of truck brake failure is why you will see emergency offroad pathways for a truck to take into a safety zone on steep downhill slopes. On these slowdown ramps, the trucks enter a specially constructed channel that slows them as they sink into the sand.

Load imbalance occurs when a partial load inside the truck is not tied down properly. The load’s movement may cause the truck trailer to swing out of control.

Driver Impairment

Drivers may be sleepy or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Even something as simple as taking cold medicine may impair a truck driver. Truck drivers need to avoid driving when impaired. If the cause of an accident is the driver’s impairment, the consequences are severe.

What to do if you are hit by a truck?

If you or a family member was involved in an accident with a truck, seek the help of an attorney to protect your rights by calling (281) 475-4535 and set up an appointment for a free consultation. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, lost wages, reimbursement of medical expenses, and payment for your suffering.