Truck Driver Negligence: Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Being involved in a truck accident can be serious and you have the right to claim compensation if you believe the accident was caused by a negligent truck driver. When driving a truck, there is a higher risk of an accident due to the size of the vehicle, meaning truck drivers must take extra care on the roads compared to car and motorcycle drivers. If you have been involved in an accident with a truck, read on to find out about truck driver negligence and how you can start building your case today.

Driving While Tired

Truck drivers must take regular breaks and not drive while tired. This is not only for their safety, but it is the law. If a truck driver is working for a company with unrealistic schedules, the truck driver and/or the company could be held liable for the accident caused. Truck drivers must keep a record of how long they have driven, and the breaks taken, which can all be taken into consideration during a court case.

Driving While Distracted

Any driver who is found to be driving while distracted is deemed negligent in an accident. This includes but is not limited to eating, using a cell phone, using the mirror, smoking, vaping, or drinking. In 2020 alone, 3, 142 fatal crashes were caused by distracted drivers. Despite the dangers, truck drivers are very used to driving daily and this can sometimes cause negligent behavior on the road.

Making an Unsafe or Improper Left Turn

Trucks are large and heavy vehicles with plenty of blind spots, which makes it essential that truck drivers take the proper care when making a turn. Failure to do so can cause serious injury to drivers who do not have the time to stop or move out of the way. A turn also requires a lot more room for a truck than a regular vehicle, so a truck driver needs to bear this in mind before making the manoeuvre.

Improper Loading of a TruckImproperly loaded cargo is a major cause of truck accidents, especially if the cargo is too heavy for the truck, or is loaded too heavily on one side. If cargo is not secured properly, this could also cause a truck to lose control, especially when driving quickly or in bad weather conditions. When the police arrive at the scene, they will inspect the back of the truck to see if the cargo was to blame. In this case, the negligence would fall to the company or person involved with loading the truck.

Speeding

Any driver found to be over the speed limit can be deemed negligent, as this is a major cause of serious accidents. This can also include driving too fast in poor weather conditions, which can cause slippery roads or reduced vision, such as fog, snow, or hale.

Whatever the reason for your accident with a truck, you should seek professional legal advice. There are many ways a personal injury attorney can prove negligence against a truck driver, from police reports to CCTV and witness statements. Speak to one of our team today.

Visit our Dallas office on 2351 W Northwest Hwy Suite 2306.

Call now for a free consultation on 1-866-445-5645.