When Pennsylvania residents are driving, they make sure to follow the rules of the road so that they and their fellow motorists remain safe. Unfortunately, accidents happen, and the worst accidents often involve trucks. Accidents involving trucks are often catastrophic. Trucks are just so much larger than regular passenger cars and SUVs, so it makes sense that they can do a lot more damage.
What are some of the causes of truck accidents?
There are many different causes and reasons for truck accidents. One of the most common ones is driver fatigue. Most truckers are commercial truck drivers, transporting their loads for long distances and driving for hours at a time. The CDC says that staying awake for 18 hours at a time is the equivalent of having a blood alcohol content level of .05, meaning that drivers driving for hours on end without sleep are similar to people who are driving under the influence.
Another common cause of truck accidents is lack of visibility. Since trucks are so much bigger than cars, it’s often difficult for truck drivers to see cars that are driving alongside them or behind them. This means that if the truck driver makes a sudden turn or switches lanes quickly, they could easily slam into cars that are out of their line of sight.
Another key cause of truck accidents is distracted driving on either driver’s part. Truck drivers are often in constant communication with their home base, so it’s very easy for them to take their eyes off the road in order to check things like GPS settings and radio communications. Taking their eyes off the road for even a second can put them and any other driver around them in immediate danger and result in motor vehicle accidents.
Legal assistance can be beneficial
Truck accidents can be devastating in every way. People who have been harmed due to a trucker’s negligence might want to discuss their situation with an experienced attorney.
