Over the past decade, there has been a 20 percent rise in the frequency of Glen Burnie Truck Accidents. Generally, trucks do much greater amounts of damage when involved in crashes than other types of automobiles. If you are a victim of one of these crashes, it may be necessary to contact a personal injury lawyer to determine if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. The following is a list of the most common causes of trucking accidents.
Driver Error
Driver error is ten times more likely to be the cause of most trucking accidents that occur on US highways. Fatigue, being distracted or even substance abuse is among the most prevalent types of driver error. Any of these factors can severely impair the driver’s ability to react to certain hazards on the roadways. The delayed reaction time is enough to cause a very damaging and even fatal accident. If the driver is found to be driving in a negligent manner, then all costs and damages incurred by the accident are solely their responsibility.
Equipment Failure
Equipment failure can be anything from manufacturer defects to worn out tires. Defective braking systems can also be considered equipment failure. Before driving, the truck operator is supposed to have a detailed checklist that they go through to ensure that the truck is fully operational. If these checklists are gone through thoroughly, there should be very little chance for mechanical failure. The failure of the driver to complete this checklist before operating the vehicle is considered negligence, and is enough to place the blame of an accident squarely on the driver’s shoulders.
Weather
Generally, big trucks carry very heavy loads, which make them require a greater distance to stop when braking. In bad weather this distance can increase substantially, which can be dangerous if the driver does not compensate for the longer braking distance. The drawback to these trucks is that they are hard to stop and much harder to steer or control than regular vehicles. Many accidents are caused by the side effects of bad weather, therefore you should give plenty of room to any truck you see trying to stop.
