One of the greatest challenges someone can face after being hurt in a truck accident is proving that they are in no way liable for what happened. Overcoming this obstacle becomes easier once you get an understanding of some of the most common causes of 18-wheeler truck accidents. If you can identify one of those reasons in your own claim, the odds of you gaining fair and maximized compensation should increase.
Common reasons behind many trucking accidents include, in no particular order:
- Trucker fatigue: How many hours do you need to spend at work? Most likely not more than 10 hours in a day. Truck drivers are routinely scheduled to work 14 hour shifts with 11 hours behind the wheel. It really is not a surprise to find that many truckers feel exhausted during their shifts, which can dramatically reduce their reaction time and control over their vehicles.
- Speeding: A truck driver in a hurry to get home to their bed at the end of a 14 hour shift or 70 hour workweek may try to speed to reduce the amount of time they spend on the highway. This is a recipe for disaster, especially when considering that tractor trailers with full cargo supplies can require great lengths of empty road to come to a complete stop.
- Improperly loaded cargo: Freight attached to a trailer needs to be secured tightly and properly, or else it could fling dangerous debris into the road behind the truck. If it is a closed trailer with freight inside, like the average commercial truck making runs for retail chains, the cargo must be distributed and balanced safely; failure to do so could cause the truck to tip or jackknife.
- High winds: You have likely seen “high wind” warning signs with an image of a commercial truck along certain stretches of highway. When a gale force wind catches the broadside of a trailer, it can force the whole thing over. This is much more likely if the trailer is top heavy due to improper load balance.
- Lack of maintenance: Tractor trailers undergo a lot of stress and punishment on a daily basis. As tough as these large vehicles may seem to be, they need routine maintenance and repair to stay in top shape and be considered safe for the road. Not enough maintenance, and a trucker could suddenly lose control of their vehicle, causing a serious truck accident.
If you have been hurt in a truck accident but do not know how to pinpoint liability, or where to look for the cause of the collision, Johnson, Vorhees & Martucci can be your legal guides and representatives. We bring a collective 140+ years of legal experience to each personal injury case we take. Through our advocacy, we are proud to say that our clients have received millions of dollars in recoveries.
Learn what we can do for you by contacting our truck accident attorneys in Joplin and Springfield.
