Were you aware that trucking accidents happen every day? Knowing what causes them will prevent you from getting into one.
A truck crash is extremely dangerous because of how large they are. Unfortunately, many people suffer injuries each year because of truck drivers’ negligence. When driving, you can spot several things to help you avoid these trucks so that you don’t get hurt.
We’ll go over everything you need to know about trucking accidents so that you can prepare in case you get into one. However, you’ll be less likely to get into a truck crash because you’ll know how to spot danger signs.
Keep on reading this guide from our Sumter truck accident lawyers to learn about some of the most common causes of trucking accidents!
1. Driver Error
One of the main things that cause trucking accidents is driver error, which can happen in several ways. When driving commercial trucks, a driver must pay attention to everything around their truck, but this can be difficult unless they’ve been properly trained.
Things like speeding and not checking blind spots are two common driver errors that can cause a lot of damage to other vehicles. Fortunately, it’s easy to spot when a truck driver is making errors on the road because of the vehicle’s size.
2. Fatigue
Many truck accident cases involve driver fatigue, which happens far too often. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the maximum time in which a truck driver can drive is 11 hours. However, they’re allowed to work up to 14 hours.
These long shifts can take a toll on one’s mental health, so truckers often get fatigued when on the road. This is why a plethora of truck stops are placed on highways. Unfortunately, if a driver gets fatigued while driving, they could end up swerving on the road. This is why we recommend you maintain a large distance between you and semi-trucks when driving.
3. Intoxication
Intoxication is something that causes many accidents yearly, and truck drivers often fall victim to it because of their long work hours. Similar to being fatigued, when a truck driver is intoxicated, they’ll be more likely to swerve. Their judgment will also be impaired, so they won’t make good decisions to prevent others from getting hurt.
Any time you see a semi-truck driving recklessly, you should contact the police as soon as possible. Should you get into an accident because of their intoxication, getting a truck accident attorney will ensure that you get compensated.
4. Equipment Failure
Despite many trucking accidents being caused because of negligence, one thing that drivers usually can’t control is equipment failure. This can happen when something inside the truck stops working, preventing the driver from doing things to avoid an accident.
For example, a truck driver can’t quickly stop their vehicle if the breaks fail. While regular maintenance will prevent these things from happening, there’s still a chance that something could stop working when driving.
When working with a semi-truck accident attorney, they’ll ensure you that you can still get compensated even if the other driver couldn’t control their vehicle.
5. Wide Turns
If you speak to anyone at a truck accident law firm, they’ll tell you that wide turns are some of the most common things that get people hurt. When looking at truck accident cases, these accidents happen when a truck driver doesn’t have enough space to make a turn. They can also happen if a driver starts turning but doesn’t check their blind spot.
Fortunately, accidents caused by wide turns often don’t cause much damage. However, you can still get hurt if the driver doesn’t stop quickly enough.
6. Rear-End Crashes
When a truck’s brakes fail or the truck driver isn’t paying attention, there’s a big chance that they’ll rear-end someone. Rear-end crashes can cause a lot of damage to both a car and a driver, so truck drivers must be extremely careful when driving.
Things like poor road conditions can also increase the likelihood of a rear-end crash happening. Those that are in the back of a vehicle that’s been rear-ended by a semi-truck are likely to get killed. If someone you know has been killed in a rear-end crash, you must contact the a Columbia truck accident lawyer today.
7. Insecure Loads
When loading a truck, drivers must ensure that everything is placed correctly. Aside from that, they must also ensure that the load is properly secured so that nothing shifts when the truck is moving. If the load is insecure, things can fall out of the truck and hit other cars.
It can be difficult to tell whether a truck driver has a secure load. However, if you see that things are moving a lot, you should get the driver’s attention. Should your vehicle get hit by something from the truck, you can get into a severe accident that could harm others.
Contact a Lawyer for Trucking Accidents Today
Now that you have a better understanding of what causes trucking accidents, you’ll know how to avoid them when driving. We encourage anyone that’s been hit by a tractor-trailer to contact a South Carolina truck accident attorney as soon as possible. Commercial Vehicle accidents are more complicated than regular traffic accidents, so you’ll want a Columbia, SC personal injury lawyer with a lot of experience in this area.
Fortunately, most truck companies thoroughly vet their drivers before sending them on the road. If you do get hit by one, an attorney will ensure that you get properly treated and compensated for injuries. Your vehicle will also get replaced so that you can continue driving.
Contact us now to learn about how we can help you with your truck accident case today!
We have offices conveniently located in the in the Columbia and Orangeburg areas of South Carolina.
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