What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents?

Any motor vehicle accident can be serious, but accidents involving commercial trucks can be especially devastating. In a recent accident just west of Toledo on the Ohio Turnpike, an initial collision between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle resulted in a series of accidents involving passenger and commercial vehicles that resulted in four fatalities, multiple serious injuries, and a complete closing of the roadway for several hours. The cause of the original accident is still under investigation, but the ensuing accidents resulted because other drivers failed to adhere to a basic rule of driving: the duty to maintain an assured clear distance ahead. Why did so many drivers fail to adhere to this basic rule? The answer may be more complex than at first blush. The reason being, now more than ever we are seeing accidents involving commercial vehicles that are not well maintained, and drivers that are less skilled, and less attentive due to a number of factors.

Driver Fatigue

Truck drivers spend many hours on the road every day, facing monotonous stretches of highway, sometimes after very little sleep and not enough breaks. While many trucking companies have policies in place to minimize driver fatigue, they may have countervailing policies that exacerbate it, such as productivity expectations. The reality is that many truck drivers are compensated to drive as many miles as possible, or to make as many deliveries as they can. While these same drivers may be forced to wait an extraordinarily long time before a customer is able to unload or load their trailer. Because of this, many drivers feel pressured to skip or shorten their breaks so they can make their routes on time. When a driver is tired behind the wheel, their reaction time can be delayed more than an intoxicated individual.

Distracted Driving

Truck drivers have strict policies against distracted driving, but the reality is they are human, so the temptation is there to reach for a phone or device “just this once” or “just for a second”. Not only are these drivers looking on their phone to see a text message or an e-mail, they may be playing video games, watching movies, scrolling social media, or engaging with a sex line. Even innocuous sounding tasks can take a driver’s attention off the road in critical moments. These include changing the radio station, eating or drinking, or entering information into a GPS unit. If that temptation to use the phone or distraction by a spilled coffee hits at the wrong moment, the consequences for a truck driver who allows distractions to impact their driving are far more severe than someone driving a passenger vehicle.

Speeding

The risk of speeding is magnified by simple physics. It takes a lot more time to stop a truck that is traveling too fast than it does a passenger car. Truck drivers are often balancing the need to keep up with the flow of traffic with their company policies on speeding, but the fact remains that if a commercial vehicle is traveling too fast, the risk of an accident increases exponentially.

Poor Vehicle Maintenance

This is a serious concern and one that has been attempted to be addressed many times over the years. Truck drivers are required to not only ensure that their vehicles are maintained, but to do regular checks before they get on the road to assess the condition of their tires, brakes, and other systems. However, although many drivers sign off on these checks, inspections after these trucks have been in accidents have shown that the maintenance was either skipped or went unnoticed. It is imperative that commercial trucks take the time to maintain all their components, but drivers feel pressure to get on the road quickly and often will do the bare minimum necessary. Poor maintenance is a major cause of truck accidents.

Driving Under the Influence

Truck drivers have strict no tolerance policies from their companies and should never be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but it only takes one time for a major consequence. Just like with speeding, the reaction time needed to avoid an accident with a truck is significantly more than with a passenger car.

Weather Conditions

Snow, rain, fog, and even excess sun can all be a factor in accidents. In many cases, distracted driving, poor maintenance, or speeding can combine with weather conditions to create a perfect storm (no pun intended) for a serious truck accident. Many truck drivers are trained in how to handle weather conditions, but as storms become more frequent and severe, the risk of accidents increases as well.

Inadequate Training

Any driver who is behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle needs to have comprehensive training, followed by periodic retraining. Learning how to safely operate a commercial truck is not simply about how to handle the vehicle itself, but how to drive alongside traffic. Many trucking companies are excellent about driver training, but in the rush to get drivers on the road, things can fall through the cracks. Newer drivers may not have the road time necessary to know how to react, and older drivers may not be up to date on current advancements.

Load Shifting

The weight of the cargo, as well how the load is balanced, is essential to safe commercial trucking. Every load should be carefully checked every time the driver gets back on the road. However, if the load shifts during the drive and the driver doesn’t notice, that adjustment in balance can make a difference in how the truck reacts.

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving and road rage can be, but are not always the fault of the truck driver. Any driver can be guilty of letting aggression take over, particularly if they are running late or frustrated with another driver’s behavior. Many truck accidents are caused by another driver taking out their frustration and driving aggressively around a truck, not realizing how the reaction time differs. If you ever notice aggressive driving from anyone on the road, it is best to keep your distance. Just as important, do your part by not cutting in front of a truck that is traveling at a fast rate of speed.

Blind Spots

Commercial trucks have significant blind spots, and if they can’t see you, they can’t avoid you. It’s important to always be aware of where you are driving when you are sharing the road with a commercial truck, and to remember that if you can’t see their mirrors, they can’t see you.

Road Conditions

There are many reasons that roads may not be in great condition, whether it’s fallout from storms, lagging project planning, or budgetary reasons, but poor road conditions can be a danger to any driver.

The truth is that there are many different factors that can cause truck accidents, and many accidents are usually caused by several factors working together. Most of these factors are usually preventable. If you have been injured in an accident with a commercial truck, it’s important to get an attorney on your side quickly who can help assess whether there were preventable issues on the part of the commercial truck driver and.or his company. If so, that attorney can guide you through the process. The attorneys at Arthur Law Firm have the right experience to help. Call us right away (419) 782-9881 for a free consultation. We fight hard for truck accident victims because we know what you’re up against, and we believe no one should be financially burdened by an accident that wasn’t their fault. Let’s talk today.