What Are The Primary Causes Of Trucking Accidents?

On behalf of Lovett Law Firm posted in Truck Accidents on Friday, February 26, 2016.

Truck accidents take place every day across the United States. These truck accidents may not result in injuries or deaths all the time, but they’re terrifying for everyone involved. If you are hit, it’s likely you’ll be injured or even potentially killed.

What causes large truck collisions? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have done studies to find out the primary causes. After sampling nearly 1,000 collisions, it was found that truck crashes and motor vehicle accidents are complex. They involve more than one vehicle in most cases, and there can be outside influences that factor into the crash.

Some of the most common causes of crashes can be linked to these things, though: training, vehicle design, vehicle condition, highway condition, weather conditions and traffic signaling. Other factors, like a tire blow out or hitting black ice can also affect you.

Major factors in motor vehicle accidents overall include driving under the influence and speeding. Fatigue is also a common cause of accidents, particularly for those who drive many hours on the roads.

Environmental factors can cause traffic collisions. Heavy rain, tornadoes and heavy wind, snow and ice can all impact traffic. Not being aware of how to drive safely in those conditions can cause serious collisions and pile-up accidents.

When looking at a chart showing the critical reasons for a truck accident, you can see that the most common cause of crashes comes down to a driver’s ineptitude. Failing to stay awake, making bad decisions and not recognizing dangers are some of the most common reasons for truck accidents overall.

Source: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “The Large Truck Crash Causation Study,” accessed Feb. 26, 2016