3 Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents?

There is no single cause of big rig accidents. Just like any motor vehicle accident, drivers of commercial trucks may crash for almost any reason. Unfortunately for drivers of smaller cars on the road, truck drivers’ negligent behavior and poor choices behind the wheel are the cause of many accidents.

While these mistakes might not cause as much damage in a sedan, big rigs often weigh more than ten times as much as a compact car. Poor judgment, speeding, driving while intoxicated, drowsy driving, and distracted driving are some of the negligent behaviors that can cause a truck accident.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA), in 2019, 6% of truck drivers involved in a fatal accident tested positive for drugs. Using a cell phone, eating, and drowsy driving were other leading causes the FMCSA found for single- and multi-vehicle truck accidents.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a truck driver’s negligent behavior behind the wheel, speak with a Texas truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. The Armstrong Lee & Baker personal injury law team can assess your case and help you understand how to proceed after a devastating motor vehicle accident.

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Once an accident occurs, one of the most important questions is what caused this accident? The answer to this question is important because a party can only be held liable if the causes are identified and proven to be the cause or causes of the innocent driver’s injuries. Although there may be multiple causes of a truck accident, they usually include one or a dangerous combination of the following:

Common Reasons for Truck Accidents in Texas

1) Truck Driver Errors

Aggressive Driving and Speeding

Truck drivers may speed to make up for lost time or meet delivery schedules, ignoring speed limits and road conditions. Speeding increases stopping distances and reduces the driver’s ability to react to sudden changes, such as traffic slowdowns or obstacles. Aggressive driving behaviors, such as tailgating, frequent lane changes, and road rage, can create dangerous situations for other road users.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs

Despite strict regulations and mandatory testing for commercial drivers, some may still engage in substance abuse. The consequences of such behavior are often catastrophic, leading to severe injuries or fatalities.

Improper Wide Turns or Erroneous Driving, Such as Failing to Pay Attention to No-Zone Areas

Wide turns require significant space, and misjudging the required distance can result in the truck striking other vehicles, pedestrians, or infrastructure. No-zones are blind spots around the truck where smaller vehicles disappear from the driver’s view. Failure to check these areas before changing lanes or turning can cause collisions.

Failing to Signal

When truck drivers neglect to use signals, other road users are left unaware of their actions, increasing the risk of collisions. This is particularly dangerous for smaller vehicles and motorcycles that may be in the truck’s blind spots.

Driving During Adverse Conditions, Such as Rain or Snow

Truck drivers must adjust to bad weather by reducing speed, increasing following distances, and using headlights. Failure to adapt can result in loss of control, jackknifing, or collisions.

2) Company Negligence

Fatigue from Working Long Hours and Not Sleeping

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates hours of service, mandating rest breaks and maximum driving hours to combat fatigue. However, pressure from employers or the drivers’ desire to maximize earnings can lead to violations of these regulations. Fatigued drivers have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and reduced attention, significantly increasing the risk of accidents.

Failure to Follow Company Procedures

Companies must implement and enforce safety protocols, conduct regular training, and ensure compliance with regulations. When companies neglect these responsibilities, drivers may not adhere to critical safety practices, leading to accidents.

Overloaded Freight

Excessive weight can compromise a truck’s handling, braking, and stability, making it more difficult to control. Overloaded trucks are likelier to experience tire blowouts, brake failures, and rollovers. Regular inspections and adherence to loading protocols are crucial to prevent accidents caused by overloading.

Poor Maintenance

Regular maintenance is essential to ensure that all vehicle components, such as brakes, tires, lights, and steering systems, function correctly. Companies must implement rigorous maintenance schedules and conduct regular inspections to identify and address potential issues before accidents occur.

Poor Training

Companies must thoroughly train drivers to operate their vehicles, understand safety protocols, and handle emergency situations. Poor training can leave drivers ill-prepared to navigate complex road conditions or respond to hazards.

Retaining a Dangerous Worker

Companies must vet their employees thoroughly and address any behavior or performance issues that could compromise safety. Retaining drivers with a history of reckless driving, substance abuse, or repeated safety violations puts other road users at risk. Companies must implement strict hiring practices, conduct regular evaluations, and take corrective actions, including termination, when necessary to ensure a safe workforce.

3) Improperly Secured Cargo

Involving improperly secured cargo can cause some of the most serious and devastating driving collisions. Both commercial and noncommercial vehicles can cause serious injuries or deaths with improperly secured cargo. Trucking safety regulations require that “no person shall drive a commercial motor vehicle . . . unless [t]he commercial motor vehicle’s cargo is properly distributed and adequately secured.”

Truck drivers and companies loading commercial trailers have obligations to properly secure and inspect the load before it gets onto public streets and highways. Sometimes, cargo falls off of a truck or other vehicle, causing unexpected dangers on the roadway. Other drivers have to react quickly when cargo falls off a vehicle.

Sometimes it is impossible for other drivers to avoid an accident when cargo falls off a vehicle in front of them. Unfortunately, these types of accidents can cause multiple-car collisions and can have devastating results. Other types of improperly secured cargo accidents include when cargo shifts within a trailer. Thousands of pounds of cargo contained within a trailer can unexpectedly move when improperly tied down.

A shift of cargo can cause the driver of the tractor-trailer rig to lose control and have a serious collision. Serious injuries and deaths also occur when cargo extends out from the trailer. This is why the State of Texas and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration have outlined requirements on how to properly secure cargo.

Any collision involving cargo extending beyond the edge of a trailer should be evaluated by an experienced truck accident attorney to determine what state and potential federal regulations may be implicated. The Houston truck accident lawyer at Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP has experience handling cases involving improperly secured loads. We understand the dramatic and devastating injuries that can result from other drivers’ failure to take basic safety precautions and follow the rules of the road.

C.J. Baker

C.J. Baker represents victims with serious injuries and he won’t let any corporation or insurance company stop his clients from getting complete justice. He has won millions of dollars for victims of 18-wheeler crashes, oilfield equipment failures, offshore platform explosions, and defective medical devices. Our lawyers have 25+ years of combined experience.

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