Truck accidents are considerably more fatal in nature then accidents between smaller passenger vehicles. Understanding the main causes behind truck accidents is the first step in prevention.
Did you know that most commercial truckers spend less than two months per year at home? According to Penny Geeks, the most common contributions to trucking accidents include bad maneuvering decisions, distracted driving and drowsy or impaired driving.
How does driver error factor into trucking accidents?
Driver error or poor maneuvering decisions alone accounts for the vast majority of trucking accidents. For instance, it is not uncommon for truckers to attempt turns that are too sharp or be traveling too fast under poor road conditions. Changing lanes at too high of a speed or over-correcting for a prior poor maneuver are the causes of many trucking collisions, often with serious consequences for drivers of smaller vehicles.
How does distracted and drowsy driving factor into trucking accidents?
Distracted driving is extremely dangerous for truckers to engage in. This is because trucks need much more time to maneuver due to their incredible size and weight. If a trucker is not paying attention to his or her surroundings, he or she may not be able to react in time to prevent an accident.
Drowsy driving is the third most common cause of truck crashes. Again, truckers spend the majority of the year on the road, and many are driving under strict deadlines. This means that some truckers are driving when they should be sleeping.
Dealing with the aftermath of an auto accident with a big rig can be devastating. It is vital for victims of trucker-induced collisions to get the compensation they deserve.
