Truck accidents have the capacity to cause serious damage and injury. It is important to know the main causes of truck accidents and how to avoid them when possible. Read on and speak with a New Jersey truck accident lawyer for help with your accident case.
What Causes Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents can be caused by a plethora of contributing factors. They are often a result of a combination of mistakes or issues on the road and can be the fault of the truck driver, the trucking company, the driver of another vehicle, and more. Some of the leading causes of truck accidents are as follows.
- Distracted driving is a major culprit. The truck driver or another person on the road could engage in distracted driving by texting, eating, drinking, daydreaming, etc. Not paying attention could result in a serious crash.
- Aggressive driving can cause a truck accident. Because of the massive size of the truck, any aggressive driving techniques could cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle. If another driver was being reckless the truck driver may not be able to avoid them because of the truck’s slower speed and more cumbersome frame. Speeding, tailgating, brake checking, and weaving in and out of traffic can all result in a crash when a truck is on the road.
- Driver fatigue can play a part in truck accidents as well. Truck drivers are on the road for extensive periods of time. They may be tired or experiencing highway fatigue causing them to drift off or lose control of the vehicle.
- Trucks need regular maintenance and upkeep, so poor vehicle maintenance can contribute to an accident. If the truck breaks down while on the road, the steering column locks up, or the brakes fail, it could result in a collision that the driver simply cannot avoid.
- Road conditions like potholes, cracks in the pavement, unsafe turns or curves, and improper infrastructure can also contribute to truck accidents.
- Bad weather can also be a contributing factor. Rain or snow can cause roads to be slick preventing a truck from being able to slow down or stop promptly. It can also impair what is already poor visibility.
How Can I Prevent a Truck Accident?
Because trucks have limited visibility and cannot maneuver or turn as quickly as passenger vehicles, it is important for other cars to make an effort to avoid truck accidents.
You can help prevent truck accidents by driving safely and following the rules of the road. Yield when required, drive at the speed limit, and do not follow too closely behind a truck. Also, try to avoid cutting off a truck as they have many blind spots and limited visibility.
Keep a significant distance between yourself and the truck, use your turn signals, and avoid braking suddenly or changing lanes without warning. Pay attention to the truck driver’s actions and distance yourself if you believe there has been a malfunction or that an accident may occur.
