Large trucks, which weigh over 10,000 pounds gross, are something you may frequently see on Louisiana roadways. Due to your tractor trailer’s size and weight, it can cause a lot of damage and devastation to a passenger vehicle if you are involved in an accident. It is important to understand that in this type of crash, there is usually more than one factor or cause involved.
With that in mind, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported that there were three main causes that led to most large truck accidents. These included if you were to hit the rear of another vehicle, lose of control of your truck or leave the lane you are traveling in. However, among these three main causes, there are many different factors that could lead to them occurring.
The accident may be a result of driver errors. This could be that you make a wrong decision on a traffic move or with the operation of your vehicle. Another situation could be that you lacked the necessary training or experience, or simply were unaware of a danger on the roadway. Another situation that may or may not apply to you is a medical emergency occurring, making it impossible to manage your vehicle. A couple of things that are always a concern and could lead to accidents are falling asleep at the wheel or losing control of your rig, whether due to cargo shifting or a mechanical breakdown.
Speeding, drug use, brake failure and roadway problems are other things that could lead to large trucks being involved in accidents. Other risky situations that you and all drivers should be aware of include traffic flow changes, drivers not being familiar with the roadways and distracted driving, which can all be causes of accidents.