Trucks on our roadways: How safe are they?

Christopher Hinderliter, a personal injury lawyer in Philadelphia, raises concerns about unsafe trucks on the road and the dangers these vehicles can pose. Chris, a practicing attorney at Sheridan & Murray and public safety advocate, has authored the following article.

Think about the dangers you face from large commercial trucks every time you travel in a passenger car. A crash involving a commercial truck, such as eighteen-wheelers and tow trucks, can be more catastrophic because commercial trucks are much larger and heavier than passenger cars. This size and weight disparity is likely to result in serious or fatal injuries in the event of a collision.

Commercial truck drivers must be aware of the problems and dangers posed by the weight and size of the vehicles they are driving. They must also be aware of the limitations of the vehicles they are driving. These limitations include increased braking distance and poor handling. The law holds commercial truck drivers to a higher standard than other drivers because of the unique problems and dangers posed by the large vehicles they drive.

Crashes between passenger vehicles and commercial trucks are quite often caused by mistakes made by commercial truck drivers and their employers. Some of the most common mistakes are:

• The truck driver has inadequate or outdated training in defensive driving, braking techniques, driving techniques, and accident avoidance techniques.


• The truck company encourages its drivers to drive faster and work longer hours in order to increase profits.


• The truck company or its outside mechanics fail to properly maintain the commercial truck, either because of poor training or a desire to save money


• The truck company and the truck driver fail to ensure that the cargo is properly and safely loaded on the truck.

When you are driving near a commercial truck on the road, drive defensively to avoid these dangers. Your life may depend on it.