There is a unique set of challenges that comes with sharing the road with commercial trucks. Truck drivers must be aware of the potential dangers their vehicles bring to the road and passenger vehicle drivers must also know how to safely share the streets with these massive vehicles.
Overall, truck drivers are excellent drivers who are patient, calm and know how to undertake a huge responsibility. However, nobody’s perfect and accidents can happen. Below are the top five reasons truck accidents occur.
Inadequate Training
Unfortunately, some truck drivers are inadequately trained which can lead to an accident. Some trucking companies often put inexperienced drivers to work, increasing the chances of a devastating collision. The lack of experience of these individuals can result in simple mistakes that could cost the company millions and the injured party their well-being.
Difficult Schedules
Truckers have irregular schedules and extremely long work hours. While Florida has laws protecting trucking company employees, not all drivers or trucking companies abide by them. This often results in truckers pushing themselves too much in spite of the clear risk factors.
Unbalanced Loads
Improperly loading the wares on a truck’s trailer may cause the vehicle to be off balance and tip over. This type of accident is incredibly harmful, especially if the products the truck was carrying start spilling onto the road into the path of oncoming traffic. When a truck falls or tips, it usually causes a pileup or multi-car collision.
Fatigued Driving
Truckers are not allowed to drive longer than 11 hours at a time after being off duty for 10 consecutive hours. This Hours of Service regulation is enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), but truckers often alter their log books to misrepresent facts, allowing them to drive longer. This is often the inciting factor of a fatigued driving accident.
Distracted Driving
It’s pertinent that truckers remain alert at all times while on the road. However, there are always distractions around, such as eating while driving, a ringing cell phone and more situations that can take their attention off the road. Distracted driving regularly causes fatal accidents, especially when commercial vehicles are involved.
While truck drivers play a role in many truck accidents, passenger vehicle drivers are not free of fault. Some of the most common ways passenger vehicle drivers cause truck accidents include:
- Cutting trucks off
- Not Providing enough room for turns
- Driving distracted
- Driving in blind spots
- Improper merging
While a truck driver may walk away from a collision with a bruise and scratched fender, your car can easily end up totaled and your injuries requiring extensive medical procedures. As the victim of a commercial truck accident, you should not be held responsible for paying bills resulting from a third party’s negligence. Contact us today at954-467-8622 for a free consultation with a Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorney.
