Top Causes of Semi-truck Accidents

Sharing the road with large commercial vehicles like semi-trucks is a challenging responsibility and can be associated with many risks. Even if you do everything the right way, the driver of a semi-truck could make a mistake that puts you and others on the road in compromising positions.

There are many causes of semi-truck accidents, with these among the most common:

• Reckless driving: Speeding, failing to use turn signals, and failure to stop at traffic signals are some of the most egregious examples.
• Distracted driving: Semi-truck drivers must ignore a variety of distractions ranging from those associated with technology to vehicle controls. Looking away for even a second can cause an accident.
• Drowsy driving: The longer a semi-truck driver is on the road, the greater chance there is that they’ll fall asleep at the wheel. And even if a trucker doesn’t fall asleep completely, their lack of alertness can cause trouble.
• Driving under the influence: The use of drugs, alcohol, and prescription medication all increase the risk of an accident.
• Improper training: This happens well before a driver takes to the road. If a trucker doesn’t receive proper training, e.g., learning how to drive defensively, they’re at risk of causing an accident.

These may be the top causes of semi-truck accidents, but there are other circumstances that can lead to trouble on the road.

If you’re injured in a car-truck accident, it’s best to turn all your attention to your injuries and receive treatment. From there, you can revisit the accident to better understand what went wrong and how to take legal action against the at-fault trucker.