74% of passenger vehicle accidents resulting in fatalities involved a large truck.
Being the victim of a car accident is bad enough. But once you start adding up the cost of damages or even medical bills, it can easily get worse.
What should you know before it happens to you?
Learn more about trucking accidents and what you should do if you’re involved in one below.
Most Common Causes of Trucking Accidents
Whether you are a trucker or someone that drives often, you need to know the dangers on the road.
There are a large number of reasons that truck accidents occur. Knowing some of the most common truck accident causes can help you avoid them.
Roadway Problems
If the road is not kept up, it can lead to accidents when drivers don’t notice the issues ahead of time. For instance, large potholes or broken barriers that have fallen into the road can be hard to avoid.
Truckers especially drive often at night, which is when these types of problems would be even harder to see and be proactive against.
Drunk, Tired, or Distracted Driving
28% of deaths caused in traffic-related incidents are due to drunk or alcohol-impaired driving.
Being fatigued while driving is also a big problem. Because it leads to more errors and less attention on the road. In the trucking industry especially, driver fatigue is a major concern due to the long hours worked.
Combine this with unsafe driving conditions, such as poor weather, and it creates a recipe for disaster.
Distracted driving is just as big of an issue as driving while tired. Texting, talking on the phone, or even browsing social media (among other things) are all common occurrences that may lead to accidents.
Malfunctioning Vehicles
If there are mechanical or electrical problems in a vehicle or truck, it leads to malfunctions that the driver didn’t anticipate. This can obviously lead to accidents because it is unexpected and can happen at any moment.
Failing to maintain the truck or vehicle is a huge issue and can result in dangerous driving environments for anyone on the road.
Speeding
People speed on the road because they want to get where they’re going as quickly as possible. For truckers, this may be because of schedule restraints or increased pressure from their job.
In some situations, vehicles may try to overtake trucks (even those that are speeding) because they want to get away from the truck or get in front of the drivers near them.
This can sometimes lead to the vehicle getting caught in the cross-wind of the truck or being blown over by the air turbulence but can be dangerous for several other reasons as well.
Do Trucking Accidents Always Lead to a Lawsuit?
Trucking accidents and the lawsuits that can come from them are different than those that come from general car accidents. Many times, the other driver will try to file a lawsuit against the trucker or trucking company.
One of the big differences to be aware of is that one of the drivers is not always going to be liable for the accident. A lawyer can help you determine who is actually at fault in these situations.
It may be the employer, trucking company, or even the insurance provider that is liable for the accident damages.
Many truck drivers are either self-employed, employed by multiple trucking companies, or employed by one trucking company. Depending on the situation, the truck accident lawsuit may look different!
If you’re filing a lawsuit against a truck driver or if you’re a truck driver that was involved in an accident, it’s important to understand these major differences.
Lawsuits Against Self-Employed Truckers
In this situation, it can be hard to determine who is liable if the trucker was at fault. Compensation may come from the driver, the insurance company, or the company that the trucker is contracted to drive for.
Lawsuits Against Employed Truckers
For truckers at fault that work at different companies, the compensation requirement may fall on the insurance company or the company that they were doing the job for at the time of the accident. In some circumstances, the liability may fall on the manufacturer that made the goods being transported.
If the trucker was operating the truck correctly and following their company’s rules, the truck accident attorney will have to prove that in order to hold the company itself liable for the accident.
Tips to Avoid Trucking Accidents as a Trucker
As a trucker, you have to be aware of what others are doing on the road and potentially be more proactive than the average driver. You’re operating a much bigger piece of machinery and your reaction time is crucial.
The first thing to do is to take your time. It’s important to meet your deadlines, but you absolutely have to be methodological and careful while on the road (especially if you’re just starting out).
You also want to be sure that you know where the other vehicles are around you. It’s crucial that you’re aware of what other drivers are doing. Especially if they seem to be changing lanes or speeding more than other vehicles.
Take the time to really look at your truck before you take off, and make sure that you have completed a pre-trip inspection before you actually get started on the road.
Get enough rest, eat healthy foods, and stay hydrated. All of these things will help you address your focus where it needs to be – the road.
Do You Need a Truck Accident Lawyer?
If you’ve been involved in a trucking accident and need to speak with an attorney, we have you covered.
Our experience at RHINO Lawyers is exactly what you want to get the compensation you’re entitled to as a result of trucking accidents.
We are available 24/7, so contact us to get the help you need today.
CONTACT A TAMPA TRUCKING ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
In short, after a trucking accident, you may not know your rights. Above all, don’t struggle through the process alone. Actually, our personal injury team is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding your accident.
Lastly, let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.RHINO.77.
