Truck accidents can be among the most devastating, dangerous, and deadly traffic collisions. Victims of truck accidents will suffer significant financial losses. The victims should hire an experienced truck accident attorney to recover these losses through personal injury law.
Knowing a few interesting facts about truck accidents may help protect yourself, your family, and your community.
1. They are Becoming More Common
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Truck accidents are becoming an increasingly common occurrence on our roads and highways. While truck drivers are required to undergo specialized training and follow additional safety protocols, the reality is that commercial vehicles are still involved in thousands of accidents a year in the United States.
Pedestrians, bicyclists, other motorists, and even truck drivers need to remain familiar with their surroundings to ensure they can stay safe while sharing the roads with large commercial vehicles. By understanding those truck accidents are becoming more common, we can all take steps to avoid them and prevent them from occurring in the first place.
2. Speed is a Key Factor
Knowing that speed is a significant factor in truck accidents is essential. Truck drivers and other motorists must follow speed limits and take extra precautions when driving in high-speed zones. Studies have shown that speed significantly increases the risk of a collision causing severe injuries or fatalities, which often result in more serious consequences than normal vehicle accidents.
3. Driver Fatigue is Another Major Cause
It is another major cause of truck accidents and has been found to increase the risk of a crash significantly. Driver fatigue is mainly caused by prolonged periods spent behind the wheel and can have severe consequences regarding driver reactions and decisions. This can be particularly dangerous for large commercial trucks, as their size and weight make any accident more potent than regular vehicles.
Furthermore, drivers may ignore the required rest periods mandated by law to stay on schedule or avoid additional costs, which puts everyone else on the roads at significant risk. It is essential for all drivers, especially those involved in trucking, to remain aware of the risks associated with driver fatigue and take necessary precautions such as adequate rest breaks.
4. Overloaded Trucks Pose a Higher Risk for Serious Accidents on Our Roads
Not only does overloaded cargo reduce the stability of a truck, but it also reduces the driver’s ability to brake on time, increasing the potential for a truck accident. Overloads are especially dangerous when traveling at higher speeds or going down slopes.
In those cases, overloaded trucks are difficult to handle and can quickly go out of control if overloaded. Awareness is vital; we must recognize this issue by exercising caution when driving near overloaded trucks and enforcing safe weight limits on all tractor-trailers on our roads.
5. Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
This influence can make it difficult for drivers to respond to changing driving conditions or judge distances correctly. Impaired judgment can mean that a driver does not notice an animal on the road, fails to recognize lane closures, or misread signals from other drivers. Sadly, these kinds of truck accidents often result in fatalities due to large commercial trucks’ size and weight, making for devastating consequences at high speeds.
All parties involved should familiarize themselves with local and federal safety regulations that come into play regarding truck accidents. While unfortunate events may still occur, we can better prepare ourselves for potential hazards on the open road by knowing the facts surrounding such occurrences.
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