Sharing the road with commercial trucks is easier said than done. Not only are these vehicles large, but truck drivers don’t always obey the rules of the road. This can be a recipe for disaster.
Understanding the most common causes of truck accidents can help you prevent trouble. Here’s what you should keep an eye out for:
- Reckless driving: This can take on many forms, such as illegal passing, excessive speeding and improper yielding.
- Distracted driving: Truckers aren’t immune to distractions. In fact, those that spend a lot of time on the road will have many chances to become distracted. Common examples include texting, talking on the phone, adjusting vehicle controls, eating, drinking and smoking.
- Driving while under the influence: Drugs, alcohol and prescription medications can all make it difficult for a trucker to make good decisions and maintain control of their vehicle.
- Drowsy driving: This is a particularly big problem among truckers who are on tight deadlines. If they begin to fall behind schedule, they may look for ways to cut corners. And that often means spending too many consecutive hours behind the wheel.
Familiarity with these common causes of truck accidents can help you avoid trouble, but there’s only so much you can do that is within your control.
What to do after a truck accident
Should a trucker cause an accident, there’s a high likelihood of severe damage to your vehicle and serious injuries. Your priority is your health, so assess your injuries, call 911 and allow the responding paramedics to provide treatment at the scene and on the way to the hospital. From there, you can revisit the cause of the accident and review the steps you can take to hold the negligent party responsible.