There are a number of reasons for truck accidents, many of which can be
completely avoided if a truck driver follows the rules and regulations
of his or her job. It’s important for drivers to get enough sleep,
to pay attention to the road and to avoid drinking or becoming intoxicated by drugs.
When a driver doesn’t consider the impact of his or her actions, there’s
a potential for serious injuries and deaths. Trucks weigh thousands of pounds more than passenger vehicles, making
it more likely for the people in the vehicle to suffer injuries or to
be killed than those in the truck.
Three causes of truck accidents are avoidable. These three causes include drowsy, distracted and drunk driving.
1. Drowsy driving
According to a The Large Truck Crash Causation Study, 13 percent of all
commercial motor vehicle drivers were fatigued at the time of their accidents. That’s surprising, considering that
there are many ways to address drowsiness to prevent drivers from being
too tired. Getting enough sleep helps, but there are also Hours of Service
regulations that limit how much drivers can be behind the wheel.
2. Distracted driving
Distracted driving is another problem that can lead to trucking accidents.
No one should use a cellphone and drive one-handed or try to text while behind the wheel. If a truck driver does this, there’s a particularly high risk of
an accident taking place that causes extreme damage to the other vehicle
and potentially life-threatening injuries to the people inside. Some common
distractions for truck drivers include adjusting the radio or GPS, eating
behind the wheel and talking while holding a cellphone.
3. Drunk driving
Drunk driving is something truck drivers should never do, and the law actually limits
a commercial vehicle’s driver to no more than .04 percent alcohol
in his or her blood stream when behind the wheel, even though other drivers
have a .08 percent limit. Since this law is in place, if a truck driver
hits you with a .05 percent blood alcohol concentration, he or she will
be considered to have been intoxicated at the time of the crash.
After a crash with a truck driver, you may have serious injuries or be
facing the death of a loved one. It’s important that you have time
to heal, no matter what your situation is.
Your attorney can help file a claim while you focus on recovery.