Accidents involving trucks can be devastating. The sheer size and weight of these vehicles give them the potential to do a lot more damage than a regular sized vehicle could. Unfortunately, sometimes accidents will happen, regardless of who is at fault.
When that does happen, you need to make sure you have good legal representation. It’s important to get a firm that specializes in auto accidents, especially truck accidents. There are many truck specialists out there, such as Keller and Keller Law Firm, who can help you with advice and guidance through your process.
The best solution however is complete prevention. Sure, somebody could eventually cause an accident anyway, but if you’re not at fault things become a lot simpler and safer for you. With that in mind, here are 5 common causes of truck accidents that you can look to avoid.
- Tiredness
Despite the existence of federal regulations which limit the number of hours a driver can do driving, tiredness and fatigue are still serious problems. Some drivers push themselves too hard and don’t get adequate rest between shifts.
Another problem is simply a drift of attention on prolonged trips. Some routes are thousands of miles long with vast stretches through repetitive, boring scenery. Take breaks regularly to avoid fatigue and you might just be saving a life – possibly your own.
- Speeding/Reckless Driving
Another side effect of huge routes is speeding or reckless driving in general. We know it can be tempting to rush and some employers even apply pressure to make this happen. Remember that your safety has to come first. Keep it safe and within the law to avoid accidents. Likewise, if you cause an accident by doing either of these things, it’s likely to end up costing you massively.
- Improper Maintenance
Poor maintenance is a real problem for commercial vehicles. Some firms try to cut corners and use poor quality parts, whilst others simply neglect the regular checks that are needed. A parts failure could be catastrophic for you as well, so try to keep an eye/ear out for anything that seems out of place. Report any issues and insist they’re fixed before you be asked to drive the truck.
- Brake Failures
Trucks tend to use air brakes which can be hugely unreliable when certain failures occur. In these situations, you’re left with a giant vehicle moving at high speed with no real way to stop. Brake checks are especially important and be alert for any fall off in braking response.
- Substance Abuse
Substance abuse has long been a problem for a small number of truckers. The temptation is to fill the boring routes and lonely weeks with either alcohol or other drugs. The problem is that these impair your ability to drive. Even using them out of shift can have residual effects the following day. Testing positive for any substance after an accident would have serious consequences, so it’s best to not take the risk and avoid drugs/alcohol completely whilst on the road.
