There are a number of inherent dangers involved with large semi-trucks being present on the road with other smaller passenger vehicles. When these big rigs get into accidents, there are often catastrophic results — and even minor errors may lead to big crashes.
But what exactly are the most common causes of truck accidents? The following are a few of the most prominent examples of accident causes, which can be either the fault of passenger vehicles or the commercial truck drivers themselves:
- Vehicles following trucks too closely in the “no-zone,” the area at which the truck driver has limited or no visibility.
- Changing lanes abruptly in front of a large truck, which does not have the ability to quickly decelerate.
- Inadequate training of truck drivers
- Improperly loaded or overloaded vehicles, which can lead to a greater likelihood of a rollover.
- Unrealistic expectations and schedules for truck drivers, which encourage them to speed or to spend far more time than is safe behind the wheel. Driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of trucking accidents.
- Poorly maintained vehicles and vehicle parts, especially tires. Tire blowouts are relatively common and can cause drivers to quickly lose control of the vehicle.
- Unsafe passing, slowing down or other aggressive driving practices.
Depending on the cause of the accident, the trucking company itself could be considered vicariously liable for the accident, which means you could file a lawsuit against that company. To learn more about your options, consult the knowledgeable North Carolina lawyers at Lanier Law Group.