A crash involving a small car and a truck often results in severe injuries. A truck weighs 20 to 30 times more than a typical passenger car and is higher. The mismatch in weight and height can significantly increase the severity of an accident.
But what factors contribute to truck accidents?
Driver negligence
When a truck driver drives while distracted or impaired, skips mandated rest breaks, falsifies driving logs, speeds, tailgates or skips/rushes the pre-trip inspection, they are likely to cause an accident.
Trucking company negligence
Some trucking companies act negligently, and their behavior puts their drivers and other road users at risk. Firstly, this can happen when a company negligently hires drivers by failing to perform background checks, ignoring previous DUI records or hiring drivers without valid commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs).
After hiring a driver, a trucking company should train them adequately on safety measures and company-specific procedures. A company that fails to do so allows drivers who may struggle to operate a truck safely to share the road with others.
Moreover, some of the negligent behaviors that truck drivers engage in, such as violating traffic laws or Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, stem from a trucking company’s negligence.
Some companies set unrealistic deadlines that force drivers to speed or skip rest breaks. Others even use compensation methods that encourage risky behaviors. For instance, the pay-by-the-mile structure can pressure drivers to exceed their legal driving hours and skip rest breaks to earn more money.
Poor vehicle maintenance
Equipment failure causes a notable number of accidents. These include brake system failures, tire blowouts and steering malfunctions. A truck should be regularly inspected and repaired. Cutting corners to save money or meet deadlines is dangerous.
Any form of negligence can lead to a truck accident. These three are among the common ones. If you were injured in a truck accident, learn more to understand your options.
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