Common Causes of Trucking Accidents
Trucking accidents result in serious and often fatal injuries – made even more tragic by the fact that so many trucking accidents are preventable. Often tractor trailer accidents occur because corners are cut and safety regulations are overlooked in the interest of meeting deadlines. The trucking industry is a powerful one, however, and a successful truck accident case requires the assistance of an experienced law firm familiar with trucking regulations.
You may be surprised to learn that, based on federal government statistics, the negligence of truck drivers and trucking companies is not always the cause of truck accidents.
In the spring, the federal agency that is in charge of regulating interstate trucking in the U.S., the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), issued its annual report on large truck and bus crashes.
The report features a chart showing the “critical pre-crash event” in fatal and non-fatal truck accidents in the U.S. in 2013. A “critical pre-crash event” is defined as the event which made a crash imminent.
According to the chart, the other vehicle did something to make a crash imminent such as entering or encroaching into the large truck’s lane in:
- 8 percent of the 3,906 fatal truck crashes
- 6 percent of the 73,000 non-fatal injury crashes.
| Fatal Crashes | Injury Crashes | |||
| Critical Pre-Crash Event | Number | Pct. | Number | Pct. |
| Large truck’s loss of control | 166 | 4.2% | 4,000 | 6.1% |
| Large truck’s movement | 720 | 18.4% | 18,000 | 24.7% |
| Other vehicle in large truck’s lane | 914 | 23.4% | 22,000 | 29.7% |
| Other vehicle’s encroachment | 1,535 | 39.4% | 24,000 | 32.9% |
As these figures indicate, many within the trucking industry actually do focus on safety. However, the problem is that not all of them do – and the results of their negligence can be devastating.
According to the same FMCSA report, out of the 3,159 people who died in multiple-vehicle large truck crashes in 2013, 89.7 percent were drivers or passengers in the other vehicles, or a total of 2,833 people.
Unfortunately, as our law firm has learned through decades of helping truck accident victims and their families in New Jersey and New York, many accidents involving tractor-trailers can be traced to entirely preventable causes.
A Closer Look at Truck Accident Causes
A study by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration analyzed three years of fatal and injury crashes involving 141,000 large trucks such as tractor trailers, semi-trucks, tanker trucks or other 18 wheelers. The study identified the most common factors that increase the risk of a crash involving large trucks. Many accidents are caused by at-risk driver behavior.
Speeding & Tailgating
Truck drivers often engage in reckless, aggressive driving on the road such as speeding in order to stay on their delivery schedule. They often can be seen driving much faster than the 65 mph speed limit on Garden State highways or going way too fast for icy, snowy, rainy or foggy conditions.
Drowsy Driving
The FMCSA’s hours-of-service regulations place strict limits on how much time truck drivers can spend on the road. The purpose is to prevent crashes caused by drowsy drivers who are impaired by fatigue or falling asleep at the wheel. The problem is that some trucking companies put profit before safety. They may encourage or even force drivers to break these rules by setting unreasonable delivery schedules (and then falsifying logbooks to cover it up).
Drunk Driving / Drugged Driving
As Reuters reported in 2013, a study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that truck drivers’ use of alcohol and other drugs such as prescription drugs, marijuana, amphetamines and cocaine is both “high and linked to poor working conditions.” Drivers may use alcohol and drugs in response to stress or to combat fatigue. When they do drink or use drugs while driving, it impairs their thinking and motor skills and causes horrific crashes.
Distracted Driving
According to the FMCSA report, distraction and inattention rank behind only speeding among driver-related factors in truck crashes. While eating, drinking, reading a map and playing with the radio are all types of distraction that can cause 18-wheeler accidents, the biggest concern is use of cell phones to talk or text. This is why the FMCSA prohibits hand-held cell phone use by drivers.
Overloaded Trucks / Unsecured Loads
A driver can easily lose control of an 18-wheeler if it is carrying too much cargo or if the cargo is not properly secured. In particular, unsecured cargo can shift and cause the truck to jackknife.
Negligent Hiring and Supervision
Trucking companies have a duty to carefully screen drivers before they hire them and put them on the road. All too often, negligent trucking companies fail to perform background checks and employ drivers who lack certification or have a history of accidents and criminal charges. Another issue is a trucking company’s failure to properly supervise drivers after they are hired by requiring them to undergo routine drug testing and safety training.
Failure to Inspect and Maintain Vehicles
To save time and money, a trucking company may skip pre-trip and post-trip inspections of the vehicles within its fleet or may fail to make necessary repairs. As a result, motorists may be exposed to mammoth vehicles that have no business being on the road.
Vehicle Defects
Defective tires (including wheel roll-offs) and bad brakes are the leading vehicle-related factors in fatal truck crashes, according to the FMCSA. While some truck accidents can be traced to a trucking company’s failure to properly inspect and maintain these and other parts, crashes may also be due to the negligence of a manufacturer.
Unreasonable Delivery Schedules/ Fake Log Books
Federal law mandates that 18 wheeler drivers can only be on the road a certain number of hours at a time, and log books must be kept to document a driver’s hours. However, truckers are often given deadlines that don’t allow for mandated breaks and they may falsify their log books to get paid.
Experienced New Jersey Truck Accident Assistance
If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, a law firm experienced in such claims – and one that knows the trucking regulations inside and out – can help. The attorneys of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., have more than four decades of experience in representing persons who have been injured or killed in trucking collisions throughout the State of New Jersey and New York. We have handled thousands of accident injury claims, obtaining excellent results for our clients in many instances.
If we take your case, you can be assured we will use all the resources of our law firm to develop a strong argument for money damages and other compensation for you.
To speak with a personal injury lawyer with many years of experience, contact our New Jersey or New York offices at 1-800-LAW-2000. We do not charge attorney’s fees unless we are successful in your case and our initial consultations are free.
