Causes of Truck Accidents

What are the leading causes of truck accidents?

Truck Accident Lawyers Explain How Negligence Causes 18 Wheeler Crashes:

Truck accidents can ruin the lives of those involved, especially passenger vehicle occupants who are a part of collisions between 18-wheelers and automobiles. Several factors can cause a truck accident, including negligence by trucking companies and truck drivers.

The truck accident lawyers at Mike Love & Associates, LLC can help if you or someone you love was the victim of an accident resulting from a truck driver or trucking company’s negligence. Mike Love, our law firm’s founding partner, owned a trucking business earlier in his career. Mike’s trucking company was based in Angelina County and specialized in hauling heavy loads. During his time in the trucking business, Mike always made sure his company prioritized safety and adhering to trucking industry rules and regulations above all else.

Mike’s time in the trucking business allowed him to see how, in many cases, others within the trucking industry were not prioritizing safety and were instead engaging in dangerous practices to help their bottom line. Mike has used his lessons while working in the trucking business to give his clients an edge in finding the smoking gun that proves a trucker or trucking company was at fault for an 18-wheeler accident.

Common causes of truck accidents:

Several factors can lead to a truck accident. Common causes of truck accidents include but are not limited to the following:

• Distracted Driving – No one, especially truck drivers, should engage in other activities while driving. Examples of distracted driving include eating, texting, talking to passengers or on the phone, adjusting the radio/CD player/MP3 player, or operating a GPS. Driving while tired is another form of distracted driving that often causes trucking accidents because truckers are usually pressured to break the rules and drive more extended hours than they are sure to get the load there on time.

• Inadequately Trained Truckers – It costs time and money for a company to ensure that its drivers are adequately trained. Many companies fail to perform background checks, call references, or conduct driving tests on new hires. However, this can lead to truckers getting behind the wheel after inadequate training or lack of real-world truck driving experience. Having a driver operating a tractor-trailer truck who is not yet familiar with or comfortable driving the vehicle is a recipe for disaster.

• Inadequately Supervised Truckers—With today’s GPS tracking and electronic engine monitor technology, trucking companies can monitor every move their drivers make and reprimand or even fire drivers for being unsafe. Many trucking companies intuitionally disregard their drivers’ dangerous habits because it makes them more money for their drivers to get there fast and move on to the next load.

• Poorly Maintained 18 Wheelers – According to federal guidelines, Tractor-trailer trucks must be properly inspected and maintained while in use. In some cases, this includes truckers and trucking companies inspecting the vehicles daily. The reason for such strict maintenance and inspection regulations is that if a semi-truck suffers a brake malfunction, tire blowout, engine failure, or some other mechanical issue, it can lead to a catastrophic accident.

• Unsecured Loads – Tractor-trailer trucks carry massive cargo across great distances at high speeds. Cargo on semi-trucks must be secure because it could lead to tragedy if it is not. Unfortunately, those who load trucks sometimes do not do it properly. This can be due to being rushed because of a tight schedule or being inexperienced and not understanding how to distribute weight properly while packing a truck. Either way, if a load is not secure or the weight of a load is not distributed correctly, it can lead to jackknife accidents and truck rollovers.

• Drunk or Drugged Driving – Driving while under the influence of alcohol, illegal narcotics, or specific prescription or over-the-counter medications is extremely dangerous. Drivers can fall asleep while driving if a medication causes drowsiness or loss of coordination and the ability to think and reason clearly if under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.

Free consultation with experienced truck accident lawyers in Texas.

Refrain from facing a trucking company, its insurer, and a high-priced team of attorneys. The experienced Lufkin truck accident lawyers at Mike Love & Associates, LLC, can help you. We have been successfully defending the rights of truck accident victims and their families throughout Texas for years. Please speak to us for free about your case. We will answer your questions, explain your legal rights, and discuss the best options for you and your family in the future.

Check out our FAQ page for more information about Mike Love & Associates, LLC. If you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced truck accident attorney at our firm, please give us a call or fill out the online contact form on this page today.