Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Stockton
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton personal injury lawyer. Truck accidents can be caused by a wide variety of factors. These accidents often prove catastrophic, especially when passenger vehicles are involved, due to the extreme differences in size, weight, and height. Understanding the common causes of these accidents can make the difference in ensuring the safety of everyone on the road.
Blind Spots
One of the more common issues in large truck accidents are blind spots. These are areas where a trucker’s view of the vehicle is obstructed. A large truck has blind spots on all sides of the vehicle, which are greater along the right and left sides. In the event of a trucker switching lanes or stopping suddenly, a truck accident is likely to happen if that driver doesn’t realize that there is a car within one of their blind spots.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a significant factor in truck accidents. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that truckers who have driven for at least 12 hours since receiving extended rest were 85 percent more likely to cause a collision than drivers who had been awake for eight hours or less. When fatigue strikes a truck driver, this can cause them to miss seeing a stoppage or slowdown of traffic ahead, which can heighten the risk of a truck accident.
Inadequate Truck Maintenance
These types of accidents can be prevented through regular maintenance and installation of the brake system. Truckers are expected to receive proper training on how to correctly apply brakes and how to inspect the brake system. Due to the overwhelming weight of a large commercial truck, the braking systems of these vehicles are susceptible to generating more heat when used and can further increase the chances of brake failure.
Jackknifing
Many trucking accidents are related to jackknifing, which occurs when a trucker abruptly applies the brakes. This causes the truck and its trailer to lose control through skidding. Other factors attributable to jackknifing include inclement weather conditions, mechanical or equipment failure and taking a curve at high speeds.
Poorly Secured Cargo
When a load is not properly secured, that load can shift while traveling down the road. This can cause a trucker to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in a rollover or jackknife accident. Poorly secured cargo can also create a traffic hazard when it falls off a flatbed truck.
Override and Underride Accidents
Override and underride accidents occur when a motor vehicle passes underneath a large truck from either the rear, side or front. Even at low speeds, the roof of a smaller car can crush as it goes under the big rig. While most of these accidents are due to the fault of a motor vehicle driver, sometimes they may be caused by truckers for many reasons. These may include speeding, tailgating, improperly inflated tires and lack of conspicuity of the large truck on the roadway.
Wide Turns
Since large trucks require additional space when taking turns, these enormous vehicles may proceed in the adjacent lane to do so. Many drivers may be unaware of this and cars in the way can be struck by the trailer of the truck. Roughly one-third of accidents involving large trucks were caused by entering another lane, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Watch YouTube Video – By Modesto Truck Accident Lawyer Ed Smith – How Soon Should I Get in Touch with a Truck Accident Lawyer?
The following video discusses the importance of contacting a trucking accident attorney promptly after a collision to preserve key evidence in helping you prove your case.
How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help Me?
Truck accidents often result in severe injuries. This can mean high medical bills, the inability to earn wages and other associated expenses. If this situation applies to you or a loved one, it is critical to contact an experienced truck accident lawyer in Stockton to receive assistance on your case. A skilled attorney can investigate further into the reasons for a truck accident to prepare a strong case for fair compensation of damages incurred.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Stockton
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton personal injury lawyer. Truck accidents can cause serious harm to those involved. In such cases, accident victims may be able to recover compensation for the consequences of those injuries. If you, or a loved on, have been injured in a truck accident caused by the negligent actions of another party or entity, please contact me any time at (209) 227-1931 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400 to receive my free, friendly legal advice.
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To learn about my prior cases and their outcomes, visit my Verdicts and Settlements page.
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Source of: Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Stockton – Stockton Truck Accident Attorney at AutoAccident.com
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