Been involved in a truck accident?
Thousands of Americans experience life-changing injuries each year after truck crashes. In fact, the latest figures show that 5,472 people died in large-truck crashes in 2023 alone — and that number continues to rise.
But most people don’t know how serious these crashes can be until they happen to them.
Truck accidents are different.
Instead of colliding with a similar-sized passenger vehicle, victims find themselves in a pile-up with tractor-trailers that can weigh 20 to 30 times more.
The result is often catastrophic injury or death.
Fortunately, understanding the common causes of truck accidents and knowing your legal options can make a critical difference for you and your family.
What’s Covered in This Article
- The Top Causes Behind Most Truck Accidents
- How Driver Negligence Creates Deadly Truck Crashes
- The Legal Solutions That Work
- When You Should Seek Professional Legal Help
Driver Fatigue: The Silent Roadside Killer
If you want to know the primary cause of most truck accidents, look no further than driver fatigue.
Sleep deprivation among truckers is one of the leading and most preventable causes of fatal crashes. Studies show that driver fatigue is responsible for 31% of fatal large-truck crashes, making it the single leading cause on our highways.
The reason is simple:
Truck drivers work long hours in jobs where the emphasis is on speed. Many push themselves well beyond the legal driving limits to make delivery deadlines. Exhausted truckers on our roads put every motorist at risk.
When a driver has been awake for more than 18 consecutive hours, they reach the same level of impairment as someone with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% — legally drunk.
The warning signs are clear and easy to spot:
- Slowed reaction time
- Inability to make good decisions
- Failure to check blind spots
- Dangerous lane changes
- Hazardous turns and swerves
The federal government recognises the issue. Hours of Service regulations exist to help prevent it. But the truth is that violations occur.
Drivers continue to push themselves — and some trucking companies pressure drivers to meet unrealistic deadlines or look the other way when hours of service are falsified in logbooks. Accidents become almost inevitable.
Speeding: Fatal Physics of The Large Truck
Here’s something you might not realise…
32% of truck accidents are directly attributable to speeding. Nearly one in three crashes.
The science behind truck crashes is simple but deadly. These large vehicles require 20% to 40% more braking distance than passenger cars travelling at the same speed. Add excessive speed to that equation, and stopping quickly becomes nearly impossible.
That’s because a loaded tractor-trailer travelling at highway speed becomes an unstoppable force of nature. Minor speed increases take a driver’s ability to avoid a crash or minimise property damage down to almost zero.
The reality is this:
Driving a loaded 18-wheeler is a major responsibility. Aggressive driving habits and behaviours like sudden lane changes, following too closely, failing to account for weather and other road conditions, or road rage incidents make a bad situation deadly for every motorist on the road.
Truck drivers have a responsibility to exercise good judgment behind the wheel. When they fail to do so, professional legal help is needed.
When you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident due to negligent driving, you need experienced legal representation to help you navigate your options and secure the compensation you deserve after a crash.
An experienced San Diego truck accident attorney can help you understand your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve after a devastating truck crash.
Distracted Driving: The New Killer on Our Roads
You think speeding is bad? Distracted driving might be even worse.
Technology has created new road dangers for everyone — including truck drivers. Using a cell phone, GPS device, or even fumbling for food while driving puts everyone at serious risk. Seconds matter when you’re controlling an 80,000-pound semi.
The data tells the story:
Just a moment of distraction can cause a truck to drift into the wrong lane or fail to brake in time. Large vehicles have significantly more stopping distance than cars. Delayed reaction time means collisions.
When you’re injured in a truck accident due to distracted driving, you need experienced legal representation. An experienced San Diego truck accident attorney can help you understand your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve after a devastating collision.
Mechanical Failures: The Fatal Miss
Here’s something most people don’t know…
Failure to properly maintain a tractor-trailer is responsible for thousands of crashes each year. Broken brakes, worn tires, faulty steering systems, and defective lighting systems are all preventable but common causes of major crashes.
The problem is that not all trucking companies are diligent about safety.
Some fail to conduct regular inspections, delay critical repairs, and put safety second to profit margins. When equipment fails on our highways, the results are often catastrophic injury or death.
The most common mechanical failures that cause crashes include:
- Brake system failure
- Tire blowouts and worn treads
- Steering mechanism failure
- Lighting and electrical system problems
- Trailer connection failures
Mechanical failure doesn’t just happen. Equipment failure is 100% preventable with a rigorous maintenance schedule and thorough inspections.
Weather and Road Conditions: Nature Causes Truck Crashes Too
Don’t let the weather fool you.
Rain, snow, ice, and fog are all dangerous for every driver. Hazardous conditions like slick roads or reduced visibility make it even more challenging to control a large truck.
Too many truck drivers fail to make adjustments for these conditions. Dangerous driving habits become even more deadly when roads are wet or icy, trucks can’t see properly in fog, or manoeuvres are attempted in high winds.
Fully-loaded trucks need a lot of distance to stop or avoid obstacles.
Remember that delivery pressure and quotas force some drivers to continue on rather than pull over and wait for dangerous conditions to pass.
Legal Solutions: Protecting Your Rights
Been injured in a truck accident? Don’t wait.
The truth is that most truck accident cases are more complex than your average car crash lawsuit. Liability is often spread among several different defendants.
The most common liable parties include:
- The driver
- The trucking company
- The truck or trailer manufacturer
- The entity that loaded or unloaded the trailer
The bottom line is that victims of truck accidents have rights.
Specifically, most truck accident victims have a right to financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and rehabilitation and recovery costs.
The problem is that insurance companies and trucking firms won’t just hand out fair compensation. They will fight tooth and nail to pay out as little as possible.
Proving negligence on the part of the liable party is often critical to building a winning case. That means gathering evidence that shows the defendant did not exercise reasonable care, which led to your injuries.
Compiling evidence includes gathering driver logbooks, maintenance records, electronic logging device data, surveillance videos, witness testimony, and accident reconstruction.
Professional legal representation is often crucial at this stage. Many trucking companies make the critical mistake of immediately destroying or hiding evidence of negligence. Experienced truck accident attorneys know how to preserve this evidence and build a strong case.
The key to maximising your compensation as a truck accident victim is to contact an attorney as soon as possible after a crash.
For most people, that means immediately. Too many truck accident victims try to handle insurance companies alone. This almost always results in much lower settlements than victims deserve.
You should speak with an attorney immediately if:
- Serious injuries were suffered
- Extensive property damage occurred
- Multiple vehicles were involved in the crash
- Fault is in dispute
- The insurance company is pressuring you to sign a release or settle quickly
Remember that trucking companies have large teams of experienced lawyers on their side from the moment an accident happens. Level the playing field by getting experienced legal help on your side too.
The Bottom Line
Truck accidents devastate lives, but understanding the causes can help you avoid danger and know your rights.
Don’t go up against insurance companies alone. Get the experienced legal help you deserve and protect your future by securing fair compensation.
Take the first step toward recovery and call today.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal advice. No content herein creates, nor is intended to create, an attorney–client relationship. Laws regarding truck accidents, liability, and compensation vary by jurisdiction, and the application of those laws depends on the unique facts of each case. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional legal counsel. If you have been involved in a truck accident or believe you may have a potential claim, you should seek advice from a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction who can provide guidance tailored to your specific circumstances. The authors and publishers of this article disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the content provided.
