Trucking accidents can be caused by a number of things, but in the overwhelming majority of cases they are determined to be caused by some kind of error on the part of the truck driver. In many cases the drivers are sleep deprived after having driven for more hours then they are supposed to, but there are other causes.
In some cases, drivers have bad driving records or a record of disregarding safety and motoring regulations. Sometimes they are under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, or even prescription or over the counter medications. Some drivers are guilty of not maintaining their vehicles or of improperly loading their freight.
Neglect Causes Tragedy
Whether a truck accident is caused by poor maintenance of a vehicle’s brakes or tires or by a driver who has put in too many hours and is driving while fatigued, the accident that can result can cause needless, heartbreaking tragedy. Truck accidents result in a disproportionate number of deaths and serious injuries to victims. If you’ve been injured as a result of being in a truck accident, you should contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Because tractor trailers and other commercial vehicles weigh so much more than the passenger cars that they share the road with, it is important that driver errors be addressed and prevented by the companies that they work for as well as by the drivers themselves. Understanding the errors that occur is an important part of that.
Why Truck Driver Errors Happen
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, driver error is to blame for ten times as many truck accidents as any other cause, including bad weather and hazardous road conditions. The primary errors that are being made by truck drivers include distraction, fatigue, and lack of familiarity with the roads.
In nearly half of all truck accidents, drivers are found to have consumed prescription or over the counter drugs. In nearly 25 percent of cases truckers were found to have been travelling too fast for conditions, and in nearly 20% of cases drivers were found to be suffering from fatigue, causing them to fall asleep or be inattentive.
Ways to Decrease Truck Driver Errors and Accidents
One of the most important things that the truck industry can do to prevent truck accidents is to learn more about the way their drivers are driving and behaving on the road. An increasing number of companies are utilizing electronic event data recorders to track speed, braking and more. Although truck accidents are extremely dangerous, car accidents are also on the steep rise, so contact a Houston car accident lawyer if you’ve been injured. For more additional information go to mesothelioma lawyer center