What are the most common causes of truck accidents?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducted a massive study on truck crash causation, and what they found is pretty startling. Almost all trucking accidents are caused by driver error.

Outside of that, the most common causes of truck accidents include vehicle malfunctions and environmental factors.

If you’ve recently been involved in a truck crash, determining what caused the incident is critical to moving forward with any potential insurance or personal injury claim. In general, you can seek reimbursement when someone else caused the incident and they had a legal duty to care for your safety. We’ll get into more details below about the most common causes of truck accidents and what they mean for your potential case.

Driver-Related Causes

The leading cause of truck accidents is driver error. Truck drivers might fall short, or a mistake on the part of another driver could cause a crash.

Driver-related truck accident causes often involve things like a lack of driver training, driver fatigue from working too many hours in a row, or a violation of safety standards. Some drivers also cause accidents when they decide to drive while under the influence. Substance abuse clouds a driver’s mind and judgment, making a collision more likely.

In general, driver errors are divided into four categories:

• Non-performance – the driver wasn’t able to drive and perform properly;
• Recognition – the driver was unable to accurately assess the traffic situation;
• Decision – the driver’s choices directly contributed to or caused the traffic situation;
• Performance – the driver was unable to accurately respond to the traffic situation.

The FMCSA study revealed that the biggest problem drivers seem to face is their own decisions, which contribute to them getting in the crash. Decision-related crashes made up 38% of all driver-error truck crashes.

Environmental and Road Conditions

Another factor that contributes to truck and motor vehicle crashes is environmental and road conditions. On an accident report, this type of cause might be identified by causes like improper signage, slippery roadway, fog, rain, snow, damaged roadways, or malfunctioning traffic signals.

When the environment is the leading cause of the accident, it’s difficult to attribute liability to anyone. When road conditions are a factor, however, you might have recourse from the agency or government body responsible for maintaining the road.

The FMCSA study recognized that only about 3% of truck accidents are the result of environmental factors.

Vehicle-Related Causes

Another one of the most common truck accident causes is when a vehicle fails. Equipment failure or a mechanical breakdown will cause a car or truck to act in unexpected ways, making it impossible for a driver to maintain control. According to the FMCSA study, around 10% of truck accidents are directly caused as a result of vehicular issues.

If part failure or some vehicle-related cause contributed to your crash, then it’s important to fully investigate what happened and your options. Sometimes, the failure is the result of negligence. For instance, if the vehicle failed due to a truck company’s negligence in regularly performing proper vehicle maintenance, then the trucking company might be held responsible.

Other Contributing Factors

While the most common causes of truck accidents are listed out above, there are other contributing factors that could lead to an accident. For instance, unconscionable trucking company priorities could subtly influence and encourage employees to skirt safety regulations, avoid pretrip inspection requirements, and even meet unrealistic schedules that cause them to lie about their hours.

If you think there are other factors that should be considered in your trucking accident case, then consulting with a personal injury lawyer can help you determine what to do next. Here at Kermani LLP, our lawyers will work on identifying exactly what happened and who might be responsible based on the facts.

How to Reduce the Risk of Truck Accidents

Now that you know more about what causes truck accidents, you can make better driving decisions to reduce the risk of being involved in one. Since driver error is the leading cause, you can do your part to reduce accidents by always remaining as vigilant as possible when you’re on the road.

Another great tip everyone should follow is to always use the proper safety equipment and follow the proper safety rules. Truckers have extensive regulations they have to follow that dictate how long they can work, how long they should rest, and what types of safety measures they need to take. Adhering closely to these rules makes the roadway safer for everyone.

How to Navigate a Truck Accident that Leads to Injuries

If you get involved in an accident, the first thing you need to do is contact the police. Crash reporting is essential to preserve your rights, plus the police will also alert medical emergency responders to come to the scene and provide immediate medical care if necessary. If your injuries are severe, then get treatment ASAP.

Once the aftermath is settled, get in touch with a truck accident law firm about your next steps. They can help you determine your legal options based on what happened.

Contact Kermani LLP Today

Have you experienced a truck accident that resulted in significant injuries? Talking to a reputable trucking accident attorney can help you get a better understanding of your legal rights and responsibilities after a crash.

In general, the best way to get answers is to ensure a thorough investigation is conducted and the cause of your crash is identified. Once that’s taken care of, you’ll need to secure the right evidence that backs up your arguments and proves your losses. From there, you’ll file an official claim and present your evidence to the responsible party.

Here at Kermani LLP, our team of skilled lawyers are prepared to help you every step of the way. Schedule a free case evaluation with our team now to learn more about our services.