When you’re on the road, your vehicle is no match for the average commercial truck or semi. Their sheer size and weight virtually guarantee that any accident will be serious. That’s why you always do your part and give commercial vehicles a wide berth, avoid riding in their blind spots and never cut them off in traffic.
But even an abundance of caution still may not prevent you from being in an accident with a big rig.
While it’s true that passenger car drivers can cause some truck accidents, there are numerous factors that can lead to a wreck from the truck’s end. They include things like:
- Driver fatigue, which can be as dangerous as drunk driving, due to the pressures of trying to meet their trucking company’s demands for shipping
- Brake problems due to poor maintenance or equipment defects
- Sudden interruptions in the flow of traffic and poor corrective measures by the driver
- Prescription and over-the-counter medication use that impairs a driver’s abilities
- Excessive speed, especially when taking into account the traffic, the road itself and the weather conditions
- Inadequate observation of the surroundings because the driver was somehow distracted (due to cell phone use, guidance systems or anything else)
- The driver’s health, including sudden problems due to diabetes, a heart condition or something similar
- Poor training, especially when a truck driver hasn’t been fully certified or the driver is fairly new — which can cause drivers to make critical executive mistakes behind the wheel
An accident with a commercial vehicle can upend your entire life and leave your entire future uncertain. Find out how an attorney can help you obtain the compensation you need.