The average 18-wheeler can be up to 20 times heavier than a passenger vehicle, so it’s not surprising how so many truck accidents in Texas and across the U.S. end in death for the passenger vehicle occupants. Below are the top five factors in truck accidents and what truckers can do about them.
The first is driver error. Truckers, like other drivers, may choose to be negligent and drive while drowsy, distracted by their phone or impaired by alcohol. In the majority of error-related truck accidents, though, the passenger vehicle driver is to blame, so truckers can stay safe by practicing defensive driving.
The second factor is wear and tear caused by poor truck maintenance. Worn brake pads and cracked windshields, for instance, continue to be linked to many accidents. Third, there are times when equipment on a truck can fail but, this time, not through the trucker’s fault. Sometimes, manufacturers will make a part that’s defective.
Next, there are many accidents where an improper response to inclement weather was involved. Truckers may have driven too fast on a wet road and perhaps jackknifed or hydroplaned. Lastly, truckers may inadvertently cause a crash because their cargo was not loaded according to the industry-specific rules. Poorly loaded trucks may tip over or dump their contents onto the road.
When truck collisions are the result of trucker negligence, those in the passenger vehicle may be able to pursue a personal injury case. When the injuries are serious, victims may be compensated for past and future medical expenses, lost wages and their diminished capacity to work. The trucking company will likely have a team of lawyers to fight the claim, so victims may want legal representation of their own. It all starts with a case evaluation.
