Many people are nervous when they share the roadway with a semi-truck. The massive size of most semi-trucks, along with how close they are to your vehicle, is very intimidating. No matter how carefully you drive, if the truck driver makes one wrong action, you could pay for their incompetence with your life.
For this reason, many people are extremely anxious whenever they’re next to a semi-truck. While you may think semi-truck accidents are an extremely rare occurrence, they’re common—and most are, sadly, the result of easily avoidable mistakes. While we’re all human, but some mistakes are too grave to not hold anyone liable.
Seeking out the assistance of a Los Angeles truck accident lawyer can help you begin your path toward recovery. However, knowing the common causes of truck accidents will also help you better assess the situation.
Improper Loading of the Semi-Truck
Truck drivers who are in a rush to make their deliveries on time will sometimes improperly load their trucks. Instead of securing their cargo, some truck drivers will rush this process. Eventually, you’ll pay for their laziness when one of their shipments smashes into your windshield.
The impact will naturally cause you to either swerve off the road or crash into another vehicle or even the semi-truck itself. The spillage of cargo over the road also puts other drivers at risk and has the potential to cause a major pile-up on the highway. A variety of horrible scenarios can occur because of the improper loading of a semi-truck.
Drowsiness While Driving
Humans require eight hours of uninterrupted sleep to remain highly productive members of society. Truck drivers are lucky if they’re able to receive this amount of sleep while making deliveries. Constantly driving on the open road is exhausting and eventually takes a toll on drivers who overwork themselves.
The deadlines for deliveries are very tight, and truck drivers often struggle to meet these time limits. For obvious reasons, a truck driver who’s asleep at the wheel is a hazard for everyone else on the road. Even a driver who dozes off for a few seconds can end countless lives. The
concept of someone falling asleep at the wheel seems unlikely to most people, but this happens more than you may realize.
Trucks in Poor Condition
Time is money for most companies, and sometimes profits outway safety. Truck companies are notorious for having poor maintenance checkups for their 18-wheelers. Sometimes, crucial parts require replacements and truck companies will hesitate to upgrade their vehicles. Their greediness leads to horrific roadside accidents that forever impact the lives of everyone involved.
Poorly Trained Drivers
Truck driving is a very serious profession that requires experience and training. Sometimes, trucking companies will forgo proper training to hire more drivers and complete more deliveries. While it’s generally not a big deal to mess up at a retail job, messing up on the open road puts everyone in danger.
Trucking companies have a responsibility to train their drivers and minimize the risk associated with them.
