4 Hidden Causes of Deadly Truck Crashes
In today’s booming economy, more and more trucks are hitting the roads each year, creating an influx of deadly crashes involving large trucks and passenger vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fatalities involving large trucks increased 9% from 2016 to 2017. Furthermore, 82% of these tragic fatalities were either occupants of passenger vehicles or pedestrians.
Truck safety is a growing national concern, and these four hidden causes of deadly truck crashes may be to blame.
Top 4 Hidden Causes of Truck Wrecks
Driver errors such as speeding and driving under the influence account for a considerable number of large truck accidents and are often discernable at the time of the collision. However, the cause of a crash is not always immediately apparent and may require further investigation to uncover. A study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) lists the four hidden factors below among the most prevalent and deadliest causes of large truck accidents.
Brake Problems
Manufacturer defects, neglecting regular upkeep, and faulty maintenance jobs can cause brake problems that lead to a wreck. If you’ve been hurt in a crash, an attorney can launch an investigation to determine whether the crash is the fault of a manufacturer, owner, mechanic, or another party.
Over-The-Counter Drug Use
Illegal drugs are often an obvious cause of wrecks, but over-the-counter medication can also impair a driver. And it is significantly harder to identify as the cause of an accident. Many allergy or cold medicines have side effects such as sleepiness, dizziness, or blurred vision, and some even explicitly state not to operate motor vehicles while taking them.
Truck Driver Fatigue
Fatigue is a major cause of crashes and can be caused by lack of sleep, unhealthy work hours, medications, or medical conditions. For truck drivers especially, fatigue is one of the highest causes of large truck wrecks. Long hours take a huge toll on drivers, who then make poor judgment calls such as pushing through rather than making a stop to rest and recover.
Work-Related Pressure
One of the more complicated causes listed in the FMCSA’s accident study is that a high number of truck drivers involved in crashes blamed high levels of stress as a major factor in their accident. These drivers were under pressure from their carrier and may have felt compelled to drive unsafely to meet their employer’s demands. This is an error in both the company’s and driver’s judgment, and a lawyer can undertake a careful investigation into the company to expose this underlying issue.
Get a Free Consultation with the Attorneys at Seattle Truck Law
Have you been injured in a large truck accident? As a leader in large truck accident litigation, Morgan Adams’ expert team of attorneys can help you uncover the real cause of your accident and hold the appropriate parties responsible. Complete a simple form to schedule your free consultation or call us today at 866-580-HURT (4878) and let us help you uncover the truth and pursue fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
References
The large truck crash causation study (2007, July). Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Retrieved from https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/research-and-analysis/large-truck-crash-causation-study-analysis-brief
Traffic safety facts: Large trucks. (2019, January). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Retrieved from https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812663
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
