The Most Common Causes of Trucking Accidents

Common causes of truck accidents include driver errors, vehicle failures, and hazardous roads, which sound routine but create devastating outcomes. Sadly, most of these situations are preventable if everyone follows safety regulations for truck drivers and commercial carriers. Getting to the heart of these accidents is necessary to support a semi-crash lawsuit and get your life back on track.

Most crash victims aren’t trained in commercial vehicle laws or investigations, and the injuries and damages of truck versus car accidents makes these situations challenging to navigate alone. That’s where the Miller Law Group comes in. Our CDL-licensed attorneys are trained truck operators themselves, and they know how to recognize safety and procedural failures that cause semitruck crashes.

Follow along as we break down common causes of trucking accidents and which entities should be held responsible.

Tired, drowsy, and road-fatigued drivers make risky decisions, are slow to react, and can fall asleep at the wheel, putting others at risk. The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets strict Hours of Service regulations (HOS) to mandate rest periods between transport jobs to prevent crashes due to fatigued operation.

When operators ignore these rules, fabricate their HOS, or are pressured to over-drive by their employers, serious accidents with life-changing outcomes occur. Common causes of fatigue-related truck accidents are lane-drifting, rear-end collisions, or erratic speed changes.

Distractions can come from inside the commercial vehicle and outside, and drivers must understand how to ignore these influences and stay focused. Texting while driving is illegal and dangerous, but looking at a passing billboard, adjusting the radio, eating, and using dispatching devices are also unsafe actions that can distract a driver and cause an accident. When commercial vehicle operators drive distracted, they can miss traffic changes or signals or fail to see pedestrians or vehicles, causing serious accidents.

Speeding doesn’t always mean exceeding the posted limit—driving too fast for weather, traffic, or road conditions can be just as dangerous. Due to the size and weight of commercial vehicles, it can be difficult for truck drivers to correct their trajectory or stop, leading to jackknife accidents or multi-vehicle crashes. Speed adds force to the impact, making these truck accidents even more devastating.

It’s dangerous for any driver to operate a vehicle while impaired and especially hazardous when the vehicle is an 80,000-pound truck. Though most trucking companies impose strict rules against this behavior, many truckers still operate under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including certain prescriptions. Impaired operation can increase the risk and severity of trucking accidents due to delayed driver reactions and poorly executed evasive actions.

Inadequate evasive actions, incorrect surveillance, and taking turns too fast or sharp are some ways inexperience can lead to trucking accidents. When drivers aren’t trained to anticipate potential hazards or safely navigate the roadway, they put other motorists at risk.

Semitrucks are equipped with conspicuity features and mechanical systems that need to function properly for safe operation. When these fail or fall into disrepair, another driver could fail to see the stopped semi or the trucker may lose control and crash. The FMCSA requires drivers to inspect their vehicles to prevent mechanical issues from causing crashes. Unfortunately, a negligent inspection or improper repair can put an unfit vehicle on the road.

When a truck’s load shifts unpredictably or the vehicle is overloaded, the trailer can become unstable and difficult to control. Improper cargo loads can spill onto the roadway or cause the vehicle to jackknife or tip, creating a dangerous situation. Truck drivers must also possess certain endorsements to carry hazardous materials to ensure they are trained to handle these loads with the utmost care.

It can be complicated to understand liability for trucking accidents without legal help because the cause of the crash can greatly impact who is responsible—and not in the ways you might think. While you might assume a driver would be the natural defendant for a semi-crash lawsuit, most often it is the CDL operator’s employer who will ultimately be held responsible for a truck accident. Here’s a breakdown of some of the common causes of trucking accidents and which party may be liable:

In North Carolina, employers of employees who cause harm while acting within the scope of their jobs may be held liable for damages.

• Fatigued operation, speeding, and distracted driving can often come down to safety regulations for truck drivers, and if the employer doesn’t enforce compliance, they could face liability.
• Monitoring preventative maintenance and managing the fleet repairs are employer responsibilities; when a part fails due to poor repair practices, the employer may be accountable for resulting trucking accidents.
• A failure to recognize when truck drivers need additional training or the failure to hire qualified workers are two reasons an employer may face a semitruck lawsuit for an employee’s accident.
• Fault for improper cargo loads may depend on which party was responsible for loading or securing the load. Often, the material handler’s employer would be liable for the trucking accident for failing to train or monitor their workers.

If the driver, maintenance technician, part manufacturer, material handler, or other entity is found to have contributed to the crash through their own reckless or negligent actions, they may also face liability for the truck accident in addition to their employer.

Whatever caused the truck accident—distracted driving, HOS violations, or a flawed inspection—you should be prepared for the freight company to dispute liability. We know they’ll have a team of lawyers by their side, but you don’t need to face them alone. Our personal injury lawyers have your back. Before anyone bullies you into an inadequate offer, let our team assist you with these critical tasks to help you get the outcome you deserve:

• Gather Evidence: Our team gathers photos, witness statements, and driver records while uncovering violations of FMCSA rules or company policies.
• Preserve Evidence: We’ll issue a letter of spoilation to the trucking company, mandating they preserve evidence critical to your accident claim.
• Reconstruct the Accident: Our network of crash experts allows us to reconstruct accidents to show what went wrong and who is at fault.
• Calculate Damages: We will help you document medical costs, lost income and property estimates, pain and suffering, and other damages to build a compelling claim.

With our team by your side, your semi-crash lawsuit will be built on the facts, giving you the best outcome possible. We understand truck accident liability and the tricks that drivers and their employers use to escape responsibility for negligent operation and poor hiring practices. If you’ve been injured, please contact Miller Law Group for a free consultation.