The Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents And How to Deal with Them

Truck accidents are a common occurrence on Dallas roads. While many of these accidents are caused by driver error, there are a few other causes that are worth mentioning.

This article will discuss the six most common causes of truck accidents in Dallas and what you can do to protect yourself from them.

Driver’s Fatigue

One of the most common causes of truck accidents is driver fatigue because truck drivers often have to drive for long periods, and they can sometimes become tired while behind the wheel.

Additionally, driving for long periods can also lead to driver error, which can cause an accident. If you are a truck driver, you must take breaks often and get plenty of rest to avoid becoming fatigued. If you are driving long distances, make sure to take breaks often and switch drivers if possible

Also, if you are driving behind a truck, and it seems like the driver’s acting recklessly, it is important to give them plenty of space and not try to pass them. Any experienced truck lawyer in Dallas will tell you that if the accident happens, the compensation claim for your injuries will be more complicated to win. The truck drivers are usually hired by the company and by law, the company is responsible for the truck driver’s actions.

Speeding

Another common cause of truck accidents is speeding. Truck drivers often have to meet tight deadlines, and they may feel pressure to speed to make their deliveries on time. However, speeding is extremely dangerous, especially when a truck driver is behind the wheel of a large vehicle. Failing to follow the speed limit is one of the leading causes of truck accidents, so truck drivers need to obey the posted speed limits.

Additionally, the fine for speeding in a commercial vehicle is much higher than the fine for speeding in a regular passenger vehicle. So, if you are caught speeding in a truck, you could not only end up paying a hefty fine, but you could also lose your commercial driver’s license.

Driving Under the Influence

It should go without saying that driving under the influence is extremely dangerous. But unfortunately, there are still some people who choose to get behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs.

Truck drivers are not immune to this problem. Driving under the influence is one of the leading causes of truck accidents. If a truck driver is caught driving under the influence, they could be fined, lose their commercial driver’s license, and even go to jail.

Improper Loading

If a truck’s cargo is not properly secured or loaded, it can shift during transit, which can cause the truck to lose control and possibly even tip over. Also, improper loading, which considers too much or too little weight, can lead to accidents. That’s why it is so important for truck drivers to make sure that their cargo is properly secured and loaded before setting out on a trip.

On the other hand, if you are involved in an accident with a truck, and it is later discovered that the truck’s cargo was not properly secured or loaded, the trucking company could be held liable for the accident. So, if you are ever involved in an accident with a truck, make sure to get the contact information of any witnesses who saw the truck’s cargo before the accident.

Distracted Driving

Texting, talking on the phone, eating, drinking, and even changing the radio station are all forms of distracted driving. Distracted driving is dangerous for everyone on the road, and can lead to damaging your vehicle. It is especially dangerous for truck drivers because they are behind the wheel of a large vehicle. If a truck driver is distracted, they could easily lose control of their truck and cause an accident. And for a vehicle of that size, the consequences could be catastrophic.

Truck drivers should never text, talk on the phone, or eat while driving. If they need to do any of those things, they should pull over to a safe location first. Of course, there will be times when a truck driver is unable to avoid being distracted. If that happens, and an accident occurs, the trucking company could be held liable for the accident.

Reckless Driving

You might think that reckless driving is similar to distracted driving, but there is a big difference. Distracted driving is when a driver is not paying attention to the road because they are doing something else, like texting or talking on the phone. Reckless driving, on the other hand, is when a driver deliberately disregards the safety of others on the road.

Truck accidents are becoming more and more common in Dallas, but there are a few things that you can do to protect yourself from them. Be sure to obey the posted speed limits, never drink and drive, make sure that the truck’s cargo is properly secured and loaded, and avoid distractions while driving.

And if you ever find yourself involved in an accident with a truck, be sure to contact an experienced truck accident attorney.