What Causes Most Semi-Truck Accidents?

Truck Driver Fatigue

Truckers spend long hours driving extremely long distances because their pay structure generally incentivizes such activity. Even with federal regulations limiting how long truckers can drive in a single day, fatigue still remains a serious issue in the trucker community. Sadly, the consequences of trucker fatigue frequently spill into the lives of everyday people in passenger vehicles.

Improperly-Maintained Vehicle

If a semi-truck is not properly maintained as governed by federal regulations, it could potentially cause the vehicle to lose control and result in a serious accident. There are many parts that could cause such a thing to happen, including a faulty braking system and tires that are excessively worn out. If a poorly-maintained vehicle causes an accident, the trucking company may be held liable for damages sustained by other drivers affected by the accident.

Distracted Truck Driver

From CB radios to smart devices, there are many things inside of a semi-truck that can distract the driver. Additionally, a truck driver may be distracted by something happening on the side of the road, a conversation with their passengers, or any number of other factors.

Inexperienced Truck Driver

In many cases, semi-truck accidents are caused by truck drivers who simply were not ready to hit the road yet. Drivers who are not properly trained, or who don’t get enough low-pressure experience driving a semi-truck on the highway before they are sent on real trips, may be susceptible to causing accidents that can severely injure folks who happen to be in the area.

Improper Cargo Loading

Improper cargo loading is perhaps one of the least predictable factors that can cause a semi-truck accident. If the cargo inside of the trailer is not packed properly, it may shift during transport, causing the semi-truck to jack-knife and spin out of control. For this reason, it is crucial for freight companies to ensure that experienced professionals handle all of the loading.

Fast Facts About Semi-Truck Accidents

According to statistics, semi-truck accidents kill roughly 5,000 Americans riding in passenger vehicles every year? However, only about 700 truck drivers die in those accidents. Most of the semi-trucks involved in these mishaps (64 percent) were pulling one trailer, and 32 percent were single-unit trucks. Only about four percent of semi-trucks that get into accidents are multi-trailer vehicles. If you survived a truck accident, consider yourself lucky — but make sure you do everything that you need to in order to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering.

How to Handle the Aftermath of a Semi-Truck Accident

If you are currently recovering from an accident that involved a semi-truck and you are unsure how to proceed, let us help you. Even if you think the truck driver did nothing wrong, there may be critical factors that you are unaware of. Our job here at The Barnes Firm is to keep the trucking companies from hiding such information from you, so we can help you build a strong case and file a lawsuit against the parties responsible for your difficult situation.