Spotlight on Truck Accidents

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Driver Fatigue Causing Trucking Accidents

Truck driver fatigue is defined as the exhausted, sleepy, or tired feeling a driver experiences while operating a commercial motor vehicle. Truck drivers work very long hours, face unrealistic deadlines, and have to meet tight rigorous schedules. Because of this fact, truck driver fatigue is one of the main reasons why truck accidents occur in the United States. Truck driver fatigue can severely impair the judgment of an individual who is behind the wheel of a commercial motor vehicle. It is particularly dangerous because one symptom includes the decreased ability to evaluate their own level of fatigue.

Read More about Truck Driver Fatigue

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A trucking accident occurs when large trailers (10,000+ lbs.) collide with other vehicles or pedestrians. Around 500,000 trucking accidents occur every year in the United States. Of these, approximately 5,000 trucking accidents result in fatalities. In fact, one out of every eight traffic fatalities involves a trucking collision.

Most of the deaths and injuries involve the passengers of vehicles while the drivers of the tractor-trailers usually escape truck-vehicle collisions with little or no personal injury. Due to the large size of trucks, an accident can greatly endanger the lives of other smaller vehicles unnecessarily when tractor-trailer operators fail to consider proper accident prevention measures.

Due to the large size of trucks, an accident can greatly endanger the lives of other smaller vehicles unnecessarily when tractor-trailer operators fail to consider proper accident prevention measures.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents:

• Unlicensed Driver
• Speeding
• Disobeying Safety Procedure
• Motor Vehicle Inspection Failure
• Repair & Maintenance Failure
• Failure to Yield The Right of Way
• 18 Wheeler Crash
• DUI / DWI
• Driver Fatigue
• Truck Rollover
• Backing Up/Moving In Reverse
• Vehicle Collisions
• Mechanical or Brake Failure
• Tires Blow Up
• Transporting Equipment with Trailers
• Overloaded Trucks or Trailers
• Loads That Shift Weight

Archived Truck Accident News