Motor vehicle accidents that involve commercial trucks have the potential to result in more severe injuries than other accidents. This is the result of the significant size of these trucks relative to typical passenger vehicles, in addition to the sometimes dangerous cargo that these trucks haul. Because of this potential, it is incumbent upon truck drivers and other drivers to be attentive and careful in their actions when sharing the road with each other.
Many Louisiana drivers may feel that they are operating their vehicle in a careful manner around a truck, but may be unfamiliar with the unique dangers that commercial trucks present. These drivers may be curious as to what the most common causes of truck accidents are, in order to avoid them. The most common causes are associated with the fault of a driver of a passenger vehicle, include driving in a truck’s blind spots, driving to the right of a truck making a right turn, driving between trucks and passing or merging unsafely, resulting in the truck having to move or stop quickly. Each of these actions, among others, can result in the creation of a dangerous condition on the road.
That being said, there are also actions performed by truck drivers that have the ability to cause an accident with another vehicle. Although most truck drivers are patient and skillful drivers, there are certain conditions inherent in their business that increase the likelihood of an accident occurring. Among them are impractical expectations imposed by their employer, which results in fatigue and increased speeds. Additionally, many truck drivers are not provided with appropriate training to handle their vehicle, resulting in a lowered capacity to avoid accidents and operate their vehicle safely.
The causes detailed above highlight just a few of the many causes of truck accidents. Due to the significant consequences that often result from these accidents, it is important for all drivers to understand how these accident occur to avoid them as much as possible.
Source: Findlaw, “Common Causes of Truck Accidents,” accessed on Aug. 2, 2015