5 Ways Commercial Trucks Cause Serious Accidents
The trucking industry is the backbone of the American economy. From daily needs to recreational activities, trucks carry tons of freight daily to meet market demand. However, one major drawback of the industry is the number of accidents caused by trucks.
Truck accidents are tragic events that cause a lot of damage. As the size and weight of an average commercial truck in America are significantly higher, the injuries victims sustain after an accident can be fatal. Suppose a person is injured in a truck accident; they must hire a truck accident lawyer to get the compensation they deserve.
This blog explores 5 ways commercial trucks cause serious accidents.
1. Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service Violations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established Hours of Service (HOS) regulations that refer to the maximum time a commercial driver can be on duty. Unfortunately, trucking companies and drivers often violate these rules to meet demand. Without the required amount of rest between shifts, the driver is likely to be tried.
Driver fatigue is one of the major causes of accidents in the trucking industry. The physical and mental exhaustion that comes with driving for a long period of time can cloud the driver’s judgment and decrease their reaction time. Such conditions can be dangerous, as the driver might miss hurdles or other objects on the road and cause an accident.
2. Improperly Loaded and Overloaded Trucks
Various types of trucks have a specific amount of freight they may carry in one trip. This weight is determined after extensive research on the vehicle's various components, the types of goods it may carry, the type of roads it may be on, etc. Deviating from this set amount is likely to have disastrous results.
Regardless of these rules, some trucks are loaded with extra goods to get more freight across in one trip. Doing so causes problems with controlling the vehicle due to the increased weight. For instance, a truck that is overloaded will have difficulty turning or stopping, so if a vehicle is overloaded and needs to stop, it will take more time to do so and can lead to an accident.
Freight also needs to be loaded in a secure way, especially hazardous goods. Badly loaded goods may topple when the vehicle is turning or stopping, which may cause problems controlling the truck. If a hazardous material is not properly loaded, the consequences could be dire.
3. Maintenance Issues
All types of vehicles require regular maintenance to ensure that they run smoothly. In the case of trucks, the necessity of conducting maintenance checks is much higher. As they are vehicles that carry heavy loads and travel long distances, the strain that comes to various parts of the vehicle is much higher than a car that goes a few miles in a week.
Trucking companies often delay or brush off maintenance checks to save time and money. However, this can be hazardous because faulty mechanisms will worsen over time. Trucks with faulty systems will likely break down or cause severe accidents.
4. Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Driving under the influence of substances that can alter one’s state of mind, such as alcohol and legal and illegal drugs, is a crime. Driving is an activity that requires the driver to be calm and alert; using such substances will hinder the driver’s judgment and reduce their reaction time.
The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for commercial drivers in the United States is 0.04%, while for others it is 0.08%. The stricter percentage for commercial drivers is meant to ensure road safety, as accidents caused by commercial trucks can lead to devastating consequences.
5. Speeding and Reckless Driving
As trucks have a much higher weight, basic maneuvers such as turning and stopping take longer than in an average car. This means that if a truck was to speed, it would take a significant amount of time to stop. Despite this, drivers often speed to meet their deadlines, which can often lead to them spotting a hurdle too late and causing an accident.
Some truck drivers speed to meet delivery deadlines, reducing their control over the vehicle. Other reckless maneuvers, such as tailgating, aggressive lane changing, etc., are just as dangerous.
