A Charlotte pastor and his young family suffered a terrible loss over Memorial Day weekend in a truck accident that killed a two-year-old boy and a newborn infant. The family was returning from a wedding when a six-wheeled commercial box truck crashed into their car. The pregnant mother had an emergency C-section, but the infant died two days later.
The truck driver was charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by vehicle. However, the couple later made headlines for forgiving the driver.
Commercial trucks typically cause a great deal of damage in accidents because they are larger and heavier than regular passenger vehicles. The following are common causes of these crashes:
- Driver error. Truck drivers may be impaired by fatigue, distractions or intoxication, all of which can slow the driver’s reaction to potential risks.
- Equipment failure. Equipment failures include manufacturing errors or improper maintenance. Federal law requires truck drivers and companies to perform an inspection on each truck before trips. Ignoring this law could result in equipment failure.
- Improper loading. Shipping heavy items requires the load to be evenly distributed or else the truck’s movement may be affected, such as causing it to topple over while turning. Improper loading could also result in items falling off the truck and into traffic, placing other drivers at risk.
- Weather conditions. Wet or icy roads make it even more difficult for large trucks to brake quickly. If drivers fail to take local weather conditions into account, they may not be able to maneuver the truck in time to avoid potential hazards.
- Shipping via unregulated driver or company. Sometimes shippers contract with drivers or companies that are not federally regulated, meaning they are not held to important safety standards.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, contact the North Carolina personal injury attorneys at Lanier Law Group, P.A.