What comes to mind when you think of a truck accident? Perhaps it’s the vehicle damage or slow traffic in the area following the accident. What people don’t seem to think about, though, is how a truck accident occurs in the first place.
Five Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Driver negligence or recklessness
Truck drivers today must go through an extensive amount of training before obtaining their desired certification. But just because they have such knowledge doesn’t mean they’re never going to make a mistake. For example, there are times when they might drive drowsy and, as a result, not make the best decisions on the road.
Poor vehicle maintenance
A commercial truck, just like any other vehicle, requires routine maintenance. Yet there are instances where equipment failure can cause a major accident on the highway. Ultimately, it’s the driver’s responsibility to check their truck before heading out and submitting a maintenance report. Obviously, a driver should never overlook this duty.
Equipment failure
Every now and then, you probably hear about an equipment manufacturer being found guilty of negligence during a part’s production. The sad part about this is that the faulty part usually isn’t found until after an accident involving severe or fatal injuries. Parties that could be held liable in such a scenario include the truck manufacturer, parts manufacturer, as well as the company that sold the truck.
Bad weather
It’s challenging enough to drive a car in inclement weather. Now imagine trying to stay in control of a semi-truck, big rig, or 18-wheeler as Mother Nature does her worst. There’s no question that rain, snow, and ice can be hazardous for even the most experienced drivers. By not traveling at an appropriate speed and failing to use proper braking techniques, truckers put their safety and the safety of other drivers at risk.
Improper cargo loading
There are industry-specific rules that apply when it comes to loading the bed of a semi-truck. When securing cargo, drivers must pay attention to the weight, size, length, width, and height limits. Any sort of negligence or mistakes made during loading can lead to a major accident.
Let Our Truck Accident Lawyers Be Your Legal Advocates
Were you recently injured in a truck accident? At Metier Law Firm, we have more than three decades of experience representing injury victims. During that time, our attorneys have pretty much seen it all — clients with broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, loss of limbs, burn injuries, etc.
The unfortunate thing is that regardless of the severity of your injuries, the trucking company’s insurance carrier will do everything they can to get you the minimum compensation. That doesn’t seem fair, right? Frankly, rather than go through the process yourself, your best bet is to contact an experienced truck accident lawyer.
Metier Law Firm understands personal injury inside and out. After an initial consultation where we gather the details about what happened, our truck accident attorneys go right to work on your case. We take an aggressive approach and only take our foot off the gas pedal when you receive the compensation you deserve.
Contact a truck accident lawyer at Metier Law Firm today.