Understanding the Causes of Trucking Accidents
Exploring some of the typical causes of trucking-related accidents, why they cause severe injuries, and how an attorney can help.

May 23, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Understanding the Causes of Trucking Accidents

Even though commercial trucks constitute only a small percentage of the traffic on the road, they are involved in a significant number of fatal motor vehicle accidents every year. There are a number of common issues and situations faced by truck drivers and the trucking industry that all too often lead to serious truck-related accidents.

Common Causes of Semi or Commercial Truck-Related Accidents

While there are a number of factors that may lead to a truck accident, the most common factor is driver fatigue. Some estimates indicate that as many as 40 percent of truck accidents are to some degree the fault of truck drivers that have not had sufficient sleep or rest to operate such a large and dangerous vehicle.

There are numerous reasons why a truck driver may be driving while fatigued. Drivers are under a great deal of pressure to move their cargo as quickly as possible and they generally work long hours on the road in a very sedentary job. While there are federal regulations dictating how many hours a driver can be on the road in a given period of time, those regulations may not always be complied with when a driver has a schedule to keep. According to federal regulations, a driver can drive a maximum of 11 hours after having taken at least 10 consecutive hours off. There are also a limited number of hours that a driver can work within a 7 to 8 day period.

There are also a host of personal issues that may lead tragic truck-related accidents. The stress and loneliness of the job leads many truck drivers into drug and alcohol abuse, which in turn impairs their ability to drive a truck safely.

In addition to personal issues, there are several common equipment or mechanical issues that can lead to truck-related accidents. Some of the common factors implicated in truck accidents involve poor or inadequate truck maintenance, unsecured or unbalanced cargo loads and speeding or other aggressive driving habits.

A trucking company is required to keep their trucks in good working order and to maintain records of inspections and maintenance. With the vast amount of cargo hauled by semi-trucks, it is imperative that brakes be inspected and serviced regularly. Often, an investigation will show that a truck was not properly serviced or that service was performed infrequently.

Another common problem is the improper loading of cargo. When thousands of pounds of cargo are loaded in a semi-trailer, it must be loaded in a way to prevent shifting or moving while in transit. If the cargo were to fall over or start sliding from side to side, the trailer could become unstable and cause the truck to flip over or lose control. In situations where a truck is hauling an open trailer, there may also be problems with debris or cargo falling or flying off the trailer and endangering other drivers.

If you have ever driven on an interstate or other highway commonly used by commercial trucks you are probably very familiar with the aggressive driving tactics of many semi drivers. Under pressure to make their deliveries on time, some commercial drivers will speed, tailgate or cut off other drivers in order to keep moving as quickly as possible. While these habits are dangerous for any driver, the fact that these drivers are using enormous vehicles makes them especially deadly if an accident occurs.

Jason's Law

Related to the issue of driver fatigue is the lack of suitable places for truck drivers to stop and rest. Often times, drivers are required to pull off the road at truck stops or other locations when they are approaching their maximum hours limit. In order to find a location to pull off the road and rest, drivers sometimes have to push on after they are already too tired to be driving. This situation gives rise to two dangerous scenarios. If a driver cannot find a truck stop or rest area to pull over, he or she may be forced to park somewhere that creates a danger to other drivers, such as an interstate ramp. Alternatively, the driver may be forced to keep driving while fatigued in search of a truck stop or other safe place to park.

Recently, a new federal law was proposed that may provide some help to truck drivers, and in turn, make the roads safer for other motorists. The law, dubbed "Jason's Law," is aimed at creating more rest stops and areas for truckers to safely pull over and rest when fatigued. The impetus behind the law was the death of a truck driver who had been unable to find a safe place to park and was later killed after pulling over to rest at an abandoned gas station.

Why Are Truck Accidents So Severe?

The injuries suffered by motorists are nearly always severe, if not fatal, when a truck accident occurs. Massive injuries resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia are common in semi-related accidents. The reason for the high fatality rate and the massive injuries is simple the size and weight of a semi truck is so much greater than that of a passenger vehicle. Generally speaking, a commercial truck itself may weigh 20,000 pounds, but with a fully loaded trailer it may weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. Comparatively, a typical car will weigh somewhere between 5,000 and 8,000 pounds. Considering the huge weight disparity and the speeds at which these crashes may occur, it's no wonder why these accidents produce so many catastrophic accidents and so many tragic highway deaths.

How Can an Attorney Help?

In the event that you or a loved one are hurt in a truck-related accident, working with an attorney to uncover the circumstances of the crash or to pursue financial compensation is an important first step.

Pursing a lawsuit after a truck accident can be a complicated matter. Generally, there needs to be a prompt investigation into the truck's maintenance records as well as the truck driver's logs. In addition, the relevant federal regulations must be reviewed in order to determine if a violation contributed to the accident. These situations also involve complex insurance- related issues that often require the assistance of an experienced attorney.

Most importantly, these truck-related accidents probably resulted in some very serious injuries or even deaths. With the severity of the situation, it is vitally important to work with an attorney to ensure your rights are protected and to see to it that you or your loved one are able to pursue the compensation you deserve.

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