Truck accidents can be catastrophic and result in serious injuries or fatalities. If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, consider hiring a Boca Raton truck accident lawyer to represent your accident claim. Read on for more information about the five leading causes of truck accidents in Florida.
Driver error is ten times more likely to cause a truck accident than any other factor. The following are some of the leading causes of truck accidents:
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, as commerce and e-commerce grow, trucks will move more freight than they currently do. Increased volume combined with a limited number of drivers will put added stress on trucking companies to hire younger, less experienced drivers.
Properly training truckers is imperative to the safety of all drivers. That’s why the FMCSA outlines guidelines for the following to ensure that drivers are properly trained:
If a mechanical breakdown occurs in a commercial truck, it could cause a catastrophic accident. The Department of Transportation found that over half of all truck accidents involving injury had at least one mechanical failure. The same study also found that 30% of trucks had at least one out-of-service piece of equipment. The most common equipment failures include:
The FMSCA requires every truck driver and commercial trucking company to perform a pre-trip inspection before hitting the road. They also require regular inspections and maintenance of a company’s trucks throughout the year.
External pressure to meet company delivery deadlines can lead to:
For truck drivers, inclement weather conditions have an even greater impact. Heavy rain, black ice, or lots of snow can impact how well a large commercial truck handles. This can also affect how secure the load is.
Dramatic temperature changes while crossing the country can also affect tires and cargo. Truck drivers should be trained in how to manage poor weather conditions. When drivers fail to slow down, use the right techniques for various weather conditions, and manage situations like hydroplaning or jackknifing, they can cause serious accidents.
If you’ve been involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler or commercial vehicle. Consider sitting with a truck accident attorney in Florida immediately.
