What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents?

Every year, there are thousands of large truck accidents. In many of those accidents, there are serious injuries and fatalities. Learn all about the most common causes of truck crashes and how you can avoid them.

What Causes Truck Accidents?

In 2016, there were 4,079 truck or bus accidents. With so many crashes, it should be no surprise that there are varying causes of them. Here’s a look at some of the more common causes of truck collisions:

1. Drug Use

Although truck drivers must comply with strict laws regarding drug use, they don’t always follow the rules. Drug use among truck drivers is a common occurrence. In fact, many truckers turn to drugs to help them through the long hours.

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs are also a problem. While they might not seem as dangerous as illegal drugs, other medication can be mind-altering. They can also be addictive.

Drugs inhibit a driver’s ability to react. If a truck driver is on drugs, they might not react quickly enough to a car braking in front of them. Instead of stopping on time, they could cause a devastating rear end collision.

2. Speeding

Often truck drivers have tight deadlines. In an effort to meet a deadline, a driver might drive over the speed limit. Unlike smaller vehicles, trucks can’t stop on a dime. A speeding truck can’t always stop or react to an obstacle quickly.

3. Unfamiliar Roads

It’s not uncommon for truck drivers to drive on new roads. When they do, they are more likely to cause an accident. Their lack of familiarity leaves them vulnerable to wrong turns and road hazards. In the Large Truck Causation Study, experts found that unfamiliar roads caused almost one quarter of truck accidents.

4. Failure to Check Blind Spots

Trucks drivers have limited visibility. Because their vehicles are so large, they can’t see smaller cars clearly.

In their training, truck drivers learn to check their blind spots. However, drivers don’t always remember this crucial step. If they try to change lanes without checking their blind spots, they could crash into another vehicle.

5. Fatigue

Although driver fatigue is not as common of a collision cause as drug use or speeding, it is still somewhat common.

According to federal regulations, truck drivers can only drive a certain number of hours each week. When a driver does more than the maximum hours, they put other vehicles at risk. They can be overtired and cause a collision.

Driving fatigued is almost as dangerous as driving drunk. While fatigued, drivers tend to make poor decisions and have slow reaction times.

6. Failure to Signal

Signalling lets other vehicles know about your intention to turn or change lanes. Unfortunately, many people don’t use their signals. This is true of some truck drivers.

When a truck driver does not signal, the result can be disastrous. It’s a common cause of truck collisions.

How to Handle a Truck Accident

If you’re a victim of a truck accident, you could have costly medical bills and time missed from work. Fortunately, you might be able to receive compensation for your bills. According to Cambre and Associates, a truck accident lawyer in Atlanta can help you recover damages.

If the truck driver was to blame for the accident, you could have a personal injury claim. A lawsuit could get you money for your medical bills and more.