Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Driving next to a big truck, or an 18 wheeler, or delivery truck can be intimidating to most small vehicle drivers.

Most drivers try to avoid being near them as much as possible.

In some cases the car you are driving would fit under the truck completely.

There are many reasons truck accidents happen and for the victims of semi-truck accidents the injuries can be devastating, and in some cases deadly.

Most accidents, even truck accidents, are caused by human error of some kind.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a truck then you should contact a truck accident lawyer to have them look over your potential case.

What are Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Most commercial truck accidents are caused by human error.

According to the Federal Motor carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), driver error accounts for 83% of the large truck accidents each year.

Vehicle malfunctions come in a distant second at 10% of accidents.

Some common causes of driver negligence include:

Blind Spots- Large trucks have blind spots or no zones as they are called. These are areas around the truck that the driver cannot see. They are non-visible areas to the driver in the front side and back of the truck. Drivers must check and double check the blind spots before merging, turning, or changing lanes. Failure to check the blind spots by a driver could result in a devastating accident.
Not adhering to traffic signals- A driver must obey traffic signals like stop lights, stop signs, and other traffic signals including construction signs. Disregarding these signals is a common cause of accidents for all vehicles on the road including trucks.
Improper Passing or turning- Trucks make wide turns and passes, usually getting into the other lane of oncoming traffic. New drivers who make these turns or pass without yielding to traffic, or paying attention to blind spots while passing or turning could cause serious accidents that can involve multiple vehicles.
Confusion at intersections- Intersections with multiple traffic signals, lights and turn lanes can be dangerous for truckers and all other vehicles in their path. The Federal Highway Administration data shows that accidents are more common at uncontrolled intersections that don’t have traffic lights but instead stop signs, yield signs or not signs at all. Failure to yield is usually the cause of accidents by a truck at an intersection.
Tailgating- Trucks weigh up to 35,000 pounds without cargo and around 80,000 pounds fully loaded. Since they weigh so much they need a much larger stopping distance than the average vehicle. Many of us have seen the runaway truck stop on a freeway going downhill to ensure a large truck can stop without hitting another vehicle. Trucks that ride too closely behind another vehicle are prone to cause an accident if there is a sudden stop in traffic.
Speeding- Commercial Driver License or CDL, the license truck driver needs to have requires truck drivers to stick to the speed limit. Drivers should also be aware of their route since some stretches of highway have different speed limits for cars and truck’s by weight. Speeding truck’s could cause a jackknife accident on a freeway.
Tired driving- Driver fatigue is a serious issue for long haul truckers who are expected to deliver goods to a far away location at a certain time and date. Companies place fines on the driver and trucking company for failure to drive goods in that specified time. The FMCSA has created Hours of Service regulations , limiting how long a commercial driver can drive before resting and how long in between shifts they have to rest. Even with these regulations driver fatigue is still an issue. Truck drivers violate these restrictions on how long they can drive or they are sick or taking medication causing the business. Slower reaction creates a situation where an accident can occur.
Impaired driving- Drunk and drugged driving can slow judgment, reaction times and the ability to drive safely. Commercial truck driver’s are testing positive more and more for drug use. Over 80,000 drivers ended up on the prohibited driver’s list in 2021 according to published reports

These are just some of the ways a driver can be negligent while driving a large truck.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a truck please contact an accident lawyer who has experience in truck accident cases.

Other Parties Can Play a Part in a Truck Accident

Besides the driver there are other factors that may have played a part in your accident and injuries.

Anyone (or company) that played any part in the negligence that caused your accident should be held responsible.

When trucking companies play a role in accidents these are usually the causes associated with these accidents:

Unrealistic scheduling- Even though there are hours that driver’s can legally drive, many trucking companies create delivery schedules that are not realistic and often illegal. When a trucking company sets unrealistic schedules then they may be liable if a fatigued driver causes an accident.
Unsecured freight- Warehouse and distribution, or trucking companies may be liable if the freight traveling is not secured properly. Unsecured cargo could spill off the truck into the roadway, causing traffic accidents and hitting vehicles. These accidents can be deadly. If possible avoid being behind an overloaded or unsecured truck.
Oversized loads- Oversized loads are permitted with permits and other safety measures in place. The loads might be wider than the truck, for example when moving big military equipment or pieces of a house (we’ve all seen this on the interstate). If the permits and safety measures for oversize loads are overlooked by the trucking company they may be held responsible for your accident.
Other company violations- Trucking companies, warehouse and distribution centers must comply with federal and state regulations in place to prevent accidents involving trucks.
The most common rule compliance violations are: