Most Common Reasons Truck Drivers Cause Accidents
By Ross Cellino
Truck drivers that operate delivery trucks, 18-wheelers, and tow trucks can cause truck accidents through negligent behavior. Mistakes and reckless behavior behind the wheel can cause truck drivers to lose control of their vehicles and crash into other drivers. Truck drivers cause accidents by engaging in negligent behavior, including distracted driving, speeding, fatigued driving, drunk driving, and improperly loading cargo.
Any of the above negligent driving actions can lead to a truck driver causing a high-speed truck accident, with their large vehicle colliding with much smaller vehicles. Passengers in those cars can experience blunt-force trauma that can cause severe physical injuries like back and neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, and bone fractures.
Victims of catastrophic truck accidents can suffer economic and non-economic damages that affect their physical health, finances, and quality of life. They could file a truck accident claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company to pursue compensation for their damages.
Truck Drivers Cause Accidents by Driving While Distracted
Negligent and reckless driving behavior from truck drivers can cause truck accidents. One of the most common negligent driving behaviors from truck drivers that can result in an accident is distracted driving. This is when a truck driver becomes unfocused because of manual, visual, auditory, and cognitive distractions.
When distracted, a driver will have their eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or focus away from driving. This can lead to mistakes that can cause a truck accident. Without seeing what is in front of them, a truck driver may miss a stop sign, traffic signal, car in their lane, or road debris.
If the driver does not adjust based on something unexpected in their path, the truck driver can run through a red light or stop sign, plowing into an obstacle that can cause them to lose control of their vehicle or collide with another vehicle.
The following are some distractions that can cause a truck accident:
- Calling or texting
- Using social media
- Paying too much attention to the music playing in the car
- Adjusting a GPS
- Eating or drinking
- Looking at a roadside attraction
- Consulting their truck log
Fatigued Truck Drivers Cause Truck Accidents
Truck drivers can work long hours, driving their trucks and dropping off cargo for over ten hours. A truck driver can become fatigued without the proper breaks and rest from driving. Drowsiness can affect a driver in a similar way to using alcohol and can lead to poor judgment, delayed reaction time, and blurry vision.
Drowsy driving is a common negligent driving action from truck drivers caused by poor rest and relaxation. While there are rules for how long a driver can stay on the road before resting, truck drivers may not get proper rest because of a messed up sleep schedule.
They can struggle to get sufficient rest and try to get themselves back to work as soon as possible. Bad sleep, long work hours, and a lot of time behind the wheel can all lead to a commercial truck driver becoming fatigued and making a mistake that can cause a truck accident.
Truck Accidents Caused by Speeding
A truck driver may run late dropping off cargo, which can set back their schedule and the schedule of people receiving the cargo. To ensure everyone remains on the same schedule, the truck driver may drive above the speed limit to make up for lost time.
Speeding is one of the most dangerous negligent driving actions, accounting for 12,330 traffic fatalities in 2021. The danger is more significant for truck drivers, as a vehicle the size of a large truck cannot be adequately controlled when going above the speed limit. The truck driver can lose control of their vehicle when speeding through sharp turns and curves, leading to rollover truck accidents that can expose other drivers to significant injury risk.
Inebriated Truck Drivers Cause Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can also result from drunk driving when a truck driver drinks alcohol, takes drugs, or uses strong prescription medication. Inebriated drivers can have reduced cognitive functioning, worsening their motor skills. Drunk drivers can make errors behind the wheel because of reduced coordination, loss of muscle control, and difficulty remaining focused on driving.
Due to the hours truck drivers have to work, many use sleeping medication to get their rest before their next shift. This strong medication can still cause drowsiness after they wake up, which can lead to a truck accident. Impaired driving is one of the most deadly types of negligent driving behavior, as it is a leading cause of roadway deaths. Truck drivers should avoid strong medication, drugs, and alcohol to prevent exposing other drivers to harm.
Truck Drivers Cannot Control Vehicles Loaded Improperly
Large trucks can carry thousands of pounds of cargo to drop off, and the truck driver must ensure it is loaded properly. An improperly loaded truck can deal with balancing issues that make controlling the truck difficult. If too much cargo is placed on one side, it can cause the truck to tip over and cause an accident.
Trucks can also be overloaded, meaning the loader puts too much cargo in the back. Cargo trucks have weight requirements to prevent malfunctions and issues that can cause truck accidents. Trucks that weigh over 10,000 pounds because of overloaded cargo can experience tire blowouts, rollovers, and mechanical failure.
Why You Should Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer
Following a truck accident, you could file a truck accident claim to hold the truck driver accountable for their negligence that led to your damages. Some damages you could pursue compensation for include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. However, handling this process alone can be difficult for someone without truck accident claim experience.
That’s why hiring a truck accident lawyer who can help guide you through the process is vital. They can help you establish negligence by collecting tangible evidence proving the truck driver caused the accident.
After proving the at-fault party’s liability, they can negotiate a truck accident settlement with their insurance company to ensure your recover fair compensatory damages. An experienced truck accident lawyer can apply their expertise to your case to give you the best chance for recovering fair compensation for your economic and non-economic damages.
Contact Cellino Law for Help With Your Truck Accident Claim
The truck accident lawyers at Cellino Law have decades of experience helping truck accident victims in places like Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Garden City. They can assist you with determining the at-fault party and how they caused the truck accident.
Our truck accident lawyers can collaborate with you to develop a legal counsel plan that represents your interest and maximizes your chances of recovering fair compensatory damages. Contact Cellino Law today for a free truck accident case evaluation by calling us at 888-888-8888 or leaving a message on our online contact page.
Content checked by the personal injury attorney Ross Cellino
Ross Cellino
As a family man and a trial attorney, I pride myself on winning cases and serving the community. With over 35 years of experience, I understand the function of a jury, how juries arrive at conclusions, and the role that the jury plays in administering justice. I know how to win cases. You can find us in Manhattan, Buffalo, Melville, Rochester, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens and other locations throughout New York.
