When, Why & Where Truck Accidents Happen
September 19, 2019Since 2016, truck accidents resulting in injuries and death have been on the rise. In fact, while wrecks causing injuries have increased by at least 4 percent, fatal truck crashes have surged by about 10 percent.1
As experts work to turn this trend around, here’s what you need to know about when, why, and where truck accidents usually happen.
When Truck Accidents Happen
Truck accidents can happen any time of the day, any day of the year, when:
- Motorists are negligent: When other drivers or truckers on the road aren’t sober, careful, or attentive, truck accidents can and do happen.
- Equipment failures happen: Whether motor vehicles have defective parts or trucks aren’t properly maintained, malfunctioning equipment can cause motorists to lose control of their vehicles and get hurt in crashes.
- Poor road conditions present unexpected dangers: Potholes, slick roads, and debris in the roads can also make it difficult, if not impossible, to safely control trucks and avoid accidents.
Why Truck Crashes Happen: The Causes
Some of the leading causes of truck accidents include:
- Driver errors: In nearly 1 in every 3 fatal truck wrecks, at least one driver misbehavior contributes to the crash.
- Speeding: This is the single most driver error that causes truck accidents (and motor vehicle accidents in general).
- Distraction: This is the second most common trucker error that least to 18-wheeler accidents (while driver impairment is the second most common reason that passenger vehicle drivers cause crashes).
- Impairment: Driver fatigue and intoxication are also common causes of truck accidents.
Sadly, these common causes of truck accidents are 100 percent preventable.
Where Truck Wrecks Happen
18-wheeler crashes don’t limit themselves to any type of road or specific location. They can happen anywhere, especially when conditions like the following are involved:
- Slick roads: Whether oil spills or ice make the roads slick, the lack of traction can create risky conditions and make it exceedingly hard to control heavy tractor-trailers.
- Poorly maintained roads: When roads lack signage, clear lane dividers, smooth surfaces, and anything else they need to help people
- Complicated traffic conditions: Rush hour congestion, work zone detours, and other factors that complicate the driving conditions can also play a role in causing wrecks. This is especially true whenever adverse driving conditions cause confusion, triggering unsafe maneuvers by motorists.
Knowing why, when, and where 18-wheeler accidents happen may help you reduce your crash risk. Unfortunately, however, accidents can still happen. If or when they do, you’ll likely have legal options for recovery whenever your crash was caused by someone else’s negligence.
Hurt in a Truck Wreck? Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer at the Amaro Law Firm
If you or someone you know has been hurt on the job in a truck crash, you can count on a truck accident lawyer at the Amaro Law Firm for exceptional advocacy in the pursuit of justice and recovery.
Call (713) 955-5521 or Email Us
for a Free, Confidential, No Obligation Case Evaluation
At the Amaro Law, we are known for providing the highest quality representation, and we always strive to get our clients the highest recoveries possible. While we understand that compensation cannot reverse the permanent impacts of serious truck wrecks, we also know that the recoveries from truck accident cases can help restore lives.
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1: According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) – Please note that all data referenced in this blog was sourced from this FMCSA report.