Truck Accidents: Common Causes and Post-Accident Tips For Truckers
Every year more than 500,000 truck accidents take place in the United States. And these numbers are increasing over time. Truck crashes are more brutal and have serious consequences than car crashes. According to a Kansas Highway Patrol crash log, a man died in a semi-truck crash on Jan 17th, 2022. The driver failed to control the truck, and it went straight into the ditch. The driver wasn’t wearing a seat belt and lost his life during this crash.
Truck crashes and semi-truck crashes contribute 2.4% of all motor accidents. In which only 60% of the time there is actually truck drivers’ fault. However, it is important to know the causes of truck accidents and some important ways to avoid them, not just for the truck drivers but normal daily drivers as well.
But before we get into the details, you should contact the Kansas City truck accident attorney if you have been a part of a truck accident near Kansas city because truck accident cases are very complicated due to many reasons. Only a dedicated truck accident lawyer with truck accident law knowledge can truly understand the liability and regulations of truck accident cases. That said, let’s have a look at the common causes of truck accidents.
Truck driver fatigue:
Truck drivers drive for long hours, and due to that, driver fatigue is very common in truck drivers. Driver fatigue directly impacts the alertness of the driver, which results in severe truck crashes. That’s why there are laws for the maximum hour of driving for the drivers of commercial vehicles. These privates need rest after being awake for some time or driving for a long distance to regain their alertness and drive safely. Driver fatigue is among the most common reasons for truck crashes, and the victim of such accidents can get heavily compensated for that.
Blind Spots:
Commercial vehicles are very long. That’s why there are some blind spots for the truck driver. In simple words, the truck drivers of long commercial vehicles sometimes cannot pay attention to all surroundings due to the blindspots. These blind spots directly affect visibility and contribute to truck accidents at times. Truck drivers fail to keep a safe distance while changing lanes and taking turns, which eventually results in the collision between truck and car on the road.
Unfamiliar routes:
Truck drivers sometimes have to drive on unfamiliar routes, which is very challenging compared to a dedicated route where they have driven many times. While driving on unfamiliar roads, drivers need to use GPS or pay attention to the road signs, which sometimes create distractions and cause accidents. These accidents can be avoided by paying attention to the road, driving slowly, and maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles.
Speeding of commercial vehicles:
One of the most common reasons for crack accidents is overspeeding. Every year thousands of truck accidents take place, and the majority of the time cause of that accident it’s all speeding.
Maintenance issues:
Unlike cars, commercial vehicles require daily maintenance. These vehicles are driven on long roads, and they require regular inspection of brakes, tires, mirrors, and engines. Because in the case of any truck components failure, severe truck crashes can occur. Breaks failure is a very common issue in commercial trucks on the road. There are even designated places on highways for search trucks whose brakes failed to stop.
That’s why the trucking companies and truck drivers need to do a full inspection before every day’s ride.
Bad Weather Conditions:
Weather is a critical element in truck accident cases. It can change at any moment and is purely unpredictable. Due to its unpredictable nature, many truck accidents and car crashes take place due to bad weather every year. That’s why it’s vital to be extra cautious while driving in bad weather situations. Drivers need to keep a safe distance from other vehicles and keep the emergency blinker on.
What to do after a truck accident?
After getting into a truck accident, you must immediately move your vehicle off the main road so your truck or car accident won’t cause a huge traffic jam.
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Warn others:
Suppose your truck is carrying some hazardous or flammable products. In that case, you must turn on your warning lights to warn the other traffic on the road after the accident and immediately call the emergency services. Also, ask bystanders to keep a very safe distance from your truck.
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Capture the accident scene:
It’s vital to document everything in the truck accident. So, while you’re waiting for the emergency services personnel, you should start taking the video of the accident scene. It will be a great help for the insurance and settlement workings.
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Contact the truck accident lawyer:
It’s crucial to contact a skilled truck accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident. Because these lawyers are experts and have all the required knowledge of truck accident claims, they can help you recover your economic and non-economic damages and help you deal with insurance companies. Kansas City truck accident attorney is among the top truck accident lawyers in Kansas City.
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