A semi-truck’s massive size results in catastrophic damage being caused when it’s involved in an accident. Victims of these wrecks can be left forever changed, oftentimes facing severe injuries that result in permanent disability, extensive physical pain and suffering, and psychological trauma that lasts a lifetime. That’s why these big rigs need to be driven carefully.
Yet, all too often truckers and their employers act negligently. The result is otherwise avoidable collisions. But how do these accidents occur and what can you do to hold an errant truck driver accountable for their actions? Let’s take a closer look so that you know what you can do to maximize your chances of succeeding on a personal injury claim filed against a trucker and their employer.
There are many contributing factors to serious truck accidents. However, there are some issues that are more common than others. Here are a few that you’ll want to be on the lookout for as you try to avoid a truck accident or as you build your personal injury case:
- Trucker fatigue: Truckers operate on tight timelines, and many of them are paid by the mile, encouraging them to drive longer and faster. While there are federal regulations in place aimed at limiting trucking hours and mandating rest periods, truckers sometimes skirt these requirements. As a result, these truckers are oftentimes tired and fatigued when behind the wheel. This can result in increased reaction times, decreased overall awareness, and difficulty multitasking when its needed.
- Poor truck maintenance: Semi-trucks are supposed to be routinely inspected and maintained. Truckers should conduct a post-trip inspection where they identify any safety defects, and dangerous trucks should be taken off the road until they can be adequately repaired. When truck companies and their employers take shortcuts and skip inspections, trucks with bad brakes, worn tires, and steering issues can take to the road, putting you and other motorists in harm’s way.
- Bad training: Truck companies should only hire safe drivers and train them in a way that ensures that they refrain from dangerous driving practices when out on the road. But staffing shortages may motivate a truck company to hire someone they might’ve otherwise passed on, meaning that dangerous and untrained drivers can end up behind the wheel of a semi-truck.
- Distraction: Truckers are susceptible to distraction just as much as other drivers. In some cases, they may be even more distracted. They might turn to their navigation devices, cell phones, or even portable televisions to kill time, but every second that they take their eyes off the road causes a significant distance to pass without being seen. This can result in a trucker missing a traffic sign or signal, failing to recognize slowed or stopped traffic, or veering across a center line and into oncoming traffic.
Building an effective truck collision case
There’s a lot of work to do to build an effective truck accident personal injury case. You have to gather evidence, talk to eyewitnesses, consider expert testimony, track your damages, and craft legal arguments that speak to applicable provisions of the law. That’s a lot to do while you’re struggling to get through your injury recovery.
But don’t let the process daunt you into inaction. You can find support to help you get through this tough time. Just make sure you’re not skimping on developing your case since you only get one shot at securing the accountability and compensation you deserve. If you want to learn more about how to build your case, then don’t shy away from discussing the matter with your attorney.