Trucks are a regular sighting throughout Texas. Many of them travel safely to their destinations, but others end up in accidents and cause serious damage. These are the most common causes of truck accidents.
Driver error
Driver error ranks as one of the top reasons behind truck accidents. This can occur for any number of reasons; a driver can become distracted, intoxicated or fatigued while working and cause a collision. In some cases, truck accidents can happen due to another reason beyond the driver’s control such as a medical emergency like a heart attack.
Accidents can also occur due to driver error if the trucker makes a poor judgment call. For example, misjudging the speed of another vehicle while attempting to pass.
Inadequate training
Trucking companies are required to adequately train their drivers so that they can safely operate the vehicles. Unfortunately, some companies fail to do that to cut corners, which can lead to catastrophic truck accidents. In some cases, the company might do this to save money by hiring just anyone. Sadly, everyone sharing the road with a truck driver with inadequate training is at risk.
Poor truck maintenance
Trucks must undergo regular maintenance to ensure they’re safe to travel. If they aren’t properly inspected and all components aren’t in optimal working condition, a disaster can happen. For example, worn tires can lead to tire blowouts and an accident.
Cargo problems
Cargo must be properly secured on a truck and must be within the legal weight limit as set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association. If it’s unbalanced, cargo could fall out onto the road, while overweight cargo can cause braking problems. In any case, these situations can result in accidents.