5 Common Causes of Truck Accidents

What Factors Have Caused a Truck Accident on California Roads?

A truck driver who is found in violation of California’s safety regulations and causes an accident may be held liable to an injured driver for their losses. The majority of all truck accidents are caused by a truck driver who was not using reasonable care while driving or who was in violation of safety regulations.

If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident, you may be entitled to recoverable compensation. The experienced team of truck accident attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers are available 24/7 to offer legal assistance to victims of personal injury. With our track record of winning more than $1 billion in settlements for our clients, we are confident that we will deliver a good outcome to your case.

To schedule a free consultation, please contact our 24/7 legal team by calling 213-927-3700 or filling out our quick contact form.

The Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Poor Driver Training and Truck Maintenance. When it comes to commercial trucking companies, all drivers must meet a minimum amount of training hours, as well as other safety requirements, before they are allowed to drive a truck on public roads. The reality is that not every commercial trucking company or truck driver will actually meet their required safety guidelines. The result is that there are many poorly equipped drivers out on the road.

Furthermore, commercial trucking companies must maintain their trucks in reasonably good condition before they are allowed on the road. As trucking companies are primarily driven by profit, they may not always fully invest the time and money it takes to properly maintain their trucks. The result of cutting corners and failing to properly maintain their trucks does not only portray poorly trained drivers, but also poorly trained drivers who are driving poorly maintained trucks.

Speeding. Truck drivers are under extreme pressure to meet their deadlines. As a result, commercial trucking companies will often pressure their drivers to get to their destinations within very strict time limits. Naturally, there are many factors which can cause delays, including traffic accidents and poor weather. Because of the tremendous stress that most truck drivers are under, it is common for them to speed in order to reach their destinations more quickly.

Fatigue. This is perhaps the most common cause for all truck accidents. Most truck drivers become severely fatigued after driving several long hours over lengthy stretches of road, typically with little to no rest in between. As mentioned, truck drivers experience a great deal of pressure to meet their strict deadlines. As a result of this pressure, they don’t sleep enough and the accumulated fatigue may easily cause them to fall asleep at the wheel or become distracted, causing a serious accident.

Distracted Driving. It is not uncommon for a truck driver who has been driving for several hours to become bored or lose focus of the road. It often happens that a truck driver will start browsing the internet or respond to text messages on their phone. Another example of distracted truck driving is playing around with the stereo, causing a seemingly harmless distraction that can last a few seconds, yet can result in serious harm.

Drug and Alcohol Use. Due to the tremendous pressure truck drivers are under, it is very common for them to use drugs and alcohol while behind the wheel. This is sometimes done in order to relieve stress, but more often than not it is a way to just keep driving. Driving under the influence as a truck driver is especially egregious because all truck drivers, due to the sheer size of their vehicles, have an added duty of care while behind the wheel.

Contact Us to Find Out How We Can Help

If you have sustained injuries as a result of a truck accident, our expert truck accident attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers will help you recover compensation for the losses you have suffered, including medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Contact us today by calling 213-927-3700 or filling out our contact form to schedule a free consultation with our experienced, caring, and compassionate legal team.