Truck Accidents

Common Causes of California Truck Crashes

Truck accidents are behind over 500,000 motor vehicle accidents each year. Of these, roughly 5,000 people are killed, usually innocent drivers and passengers of smaller cars.

While there are a variety of factors that can cause a truck accident, the most common causes include:

• Fatigue: Recent studies suggest the average truck driver only gets 5 hours of sleep each night. As an added safety measure, Congress has set limits to the amount of time a trucker can spend behind the wheel, but recent polls have found that some truckers still continue to drive for long hours to keep up with shipping demands.
• Brake Time: Due to their heavy weight, trucks can’t stop as quickly as other vehicles, even in the best weather conditions, which results in a large number of rear-end accidents.
• Turning: Trucks need a larger area to turn, making right-hand turns one of the most difficult maneuvers for tractor-trailers. Drivers in a trucker’s blind-spot, or drivers who aren’t expecting the truck to turn, can get caught in a side-swipe accident.
• Unsecured Loads: When an improperly secured load falls off a truck, it can cause an obstacle course of debris for other drivers. In these cases, the driver, truck owner, and the manufacturer can all be responsible for an accident.

Who Is Responsible For A Truck Crash?

The truck driver is not always responsible for a crash, but in some cases, truckers are placed under a lot of pressure by their employers to meet shipping deadlines. In many cases, truckers are working 11 hours each day, seven days/week.

Under these stressful conditions, truckers can become fatigued or under the influence of substances used to offset sleep deprivation. Their busy schedules may also cause them to neglect the trucks themselves, as bad brakes are a common cause of truck accidents.

If you or a someone you know has been injured, you can rely on the truck accident attorneys at The Barnes Firm to help you get the best result possible.