Truck accidents are among the most deadly types of motor vehicle accidents, with more than 5,000 people dying every year across the United States as a result of accidents involving large trucks. Sadly, many of these accidents are preventable, and may not have occurred if not for negligence on the part of truck drivers and dispatchers. Here are five types of negligence that can result in truck accidents:

  1. Poor maintenance
    • Maintaining any motor vehicle can be costly and time consuming, and this is especially true for large trucks. As a result, however, many truck owners will put off maintenance on these vehicles as long as possible, trying to get by on the hopes that the vehicle will hold up on its own. Without regular maintenance, these vehicles will maneuver worse and are more likely to experience serious mechanical failures, increasing the risk of truck accidents.
  2. Poor road conditions
    • Ideally, people would avoid driving vehicles when road conditions are particularly bad, such as from badly maintained roads or inclement weather. Unfortunately, truck drivers do not always have the luxury to not drive when roads are bad, due to their need to keep to their tight schedules. As a result, trucks can often be seen driving during poor road conditions, increasing the chances that an accident will occur.
  3. Fatigue
    • Driving a truck can be extremely demanding, both physically and mentally, with drivers sometimes forced to go without rest for extended periods to meet their delivery schedules. As a result, physical and mental fatigue are common problems, decreasing reaction time and increasing the chances of potentially life-threatening mistakes. In the most extreme circumstances, a driver may fall asleep at the wheel, resulting in an accident.
  4. Distracted driving
    • Truck drivers are just as vulnerable to distracted driving as any other driver. They may try to multitask while driving, using their cell phones, changing their radios, eating or drinking, or otherwise engaging in distracting activities while driving. This sort of behavior is as unsafe for them as anyone else, and can dramatically increase the risk of truck accidents.
  5. DUI / DWI
    • Drinking and drug use is sadly a common problem for truck drivers, and far too many will get behind the wheel after taking some kind of intoxicant. This sort of negligent behavior is not only dangerous, it is a crime. However, it is often the people around them who pay the biggest price, especially when their drinking or drug use winds up causing truck accidents.

 

If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you should contact the Tennessee personal injury lawyers at the Keith Williams Law Group. With convenient offices located in Nashville and Lebanon, our lawyers will work with you to create a litigation strategy that protects your legal rights and serves your personal needs. For more information or a free consultation, please contact us at 615-444-2900 or visit our contact page.