Common Causes of Truck Accidents in the United States

Truck drivers are some of the most important people in our society. Without these individuals transporting our goods throughout the country, our stores would not be what they are. It takes a special type of person to drive truck. For the most part, truck drivers are extremely safe and competent drivers.

There is only a small percentage of accidents day, especially when you consider the number of big rigs on the road. There are times however when a truck will have an accident. The cause of the accident usually varies, but there are some more common causes of truck accidents in the United States. Car drivers must remember that these large vehicles are limited in their capability to see, brake quickly, accelerate, and tightly maneuver.

A large majority of accidents involving truck drivers are actually caused by the other drivers on the road. One of the primary causes of accidents is when people drive behind or beside a truck in the areas that the driver has limited visibility. Another large number of accidents occur when the driver swerves quickly in front of a truck driver. When shifting lanes, car drivers must make certain that they give the driver enough room to continue driving at the constant speed they are at. It is difficult for a truck driver to stop abruptly, especially when traveling at a high rate of speed.

Another really common cause of truck accidents is caused by drivers making a left hand turn when a truck is approaching the intersection. Some drivers will then get sideswiped by the truck because the car driver misread the actual speed of the truck. The speed of a truck is sometimes difficult to properly judge do to the massive size of the vehicle. Car drivers must also understand that truckers also need to pass other vehicles on highways and byways. It is important for car drivers to know that there will be times when they will have to speed up or slow down to allow the truck to pass another vehicle. Car drivers must continue to be careful and cautious when trucks are on the road. Failing to give trucks enough space to pass is another reason for many accidents on the road.

Two more common accidents involve wind and safety. Car drivers can actually get blown to the side of the road when passing a large 18-wheeler. Drivers should be knowledgeable of the amount of wind that a truck will create. The faster the truck is driving, the more wind it will produce. Drivers must use caution when passing these big rigs. Another common cause of accidents is when car drivers do not pull off to the shoulder when taking a break, fixing a tire, or having other issues with their car. If a truck is going 65 miles per hour around a curve and a car is not properly pulled over, there will likely be an accident.

Many trucking companies also cause more accidents for truckers. Some companies offer unrealistic expectations for truckers. This forces many truck drivers to drive faster and with less sleep. These two concepts create a hazard on the roadways. A monetary incentive for faster deliveries, coupled with fewer training sessions, also causes more accidents.

All drivers must simply remember to be cautious to prevent more accidents. Goldberg & Osborne, a Phoenix Arizona personal injury law firm, has made this material available only for informational purposes. The material was written by an independent author. The law firm neither reviewed nor edited the material and cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies.