There are a variety of factors to consider when it comes to exactly what causes commercial truck accidents. Sometimes the truck driver is at fault, other times it’s faulty equipment, and still other times another driver is to blame for the commercial truck accident. Here are a few of the most common causes of commercial truck accidents.
Driver Fatigue
There are strict rules about the numbers of hours truck drivers can drive and standards of health truckers must meet. Still trucking companies continually push their drivers to break the law and push drivers beyond their limits. Truckers may end up operating commercial vehicles while they’re tired, sick, or unwell, threatening the lives of themselves and other drivers, simply to meet the demands of their employers.
Distracted Driving
Whether it’s daydreaming, an electronic device (like a phone or headset), rubbernecking, eating, or another activity, there are many things that can take a driver’s attention away from the road. Even a split second of inattention can cause a serious accident.
Driver Error
Drivers aren’t perfect. Sometimes they’ll misjudge how fast they’re going, how close they are to other vehicles, or how hazardous road conditions are. When truck drivers make the wrong decision, they’ll often cause serious road accidents.
Faulty Equipment
It’s not always directly the fault of the driver. Sometimes it comes down to dangerous or defective truck parts. Tire blowouts, brake failure, or sudden acceleration may be due to fault truck parts, not driver error. In these types of cases, it’s crucial to seek help from an experienced truck accident attorney. They’ll evaluate the design and manufacturing of the parts.
Negligent hiring or inadequate training
Truck drivers are high in demand. Trucking companies often have trouble finding truly qualified candidates to fill their driving positions. Because of this companies may hire unqualified drivers or they may fail to train their drivers adequately. They’re too eager to get trucks out on the roads as fast as possible. Unfortunately, inexperienced and poorly trained truck drivers are more likely to lead to commercial truck accidents.
Proving fault when it comes to commercial truck accidents
If you’re involved in a commercial truck accident, you may have difficulty proving what exactly caused the accident. Likely, the trucking company will try to avoid liability and may even attempt to put the blame on you. They simply don’t want to tarnish their name or pay your medical bills.
This is just one of the many reasons why you might want to seek help from an experienced South Carolina truck accident lawyer. Our team of truck accident attorneys will go the extra mile to ensure your case is taken seriously and you get the compensation you deserve. At your initial free consultation, we’ll listen to you, take notes, and ask the right questions. Contact us today to schedule a time to talk to one of our truck wreck attorneys.
