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4 Common Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents

Truck Accident Common Causes Most drivers aren’t exactly in their “comfort zone” when they’re travelling alongside a semi-truck. Although commercial truckers tend to have plenty of experience behind the wheel, no driver is immune to accidents—and a crash with a big rig is likely to result in catastrophic injuries. In this blog, we’ll discuss a few of the most common causes of commercial truck (semi-trucks) accidents and how to avoid them.

 

Unfortunately, even the most diligent motorists can wind up in a serious crash with a negligent trucker. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a big rig collision, contact Gump & Faiella to discuss your case.

Our Missouri truck accident lawyers will help you navigate every stage of the claims process and avoid costly mistakes that would harm your case. Call us today at 800-264-345 5 to schedule a free initial consultation.

Common Causes Commercial Truck Accidents

Let’s examine the four most common causes of truck wrecks:

  1. Decision Errors

According to the most recent data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration , about 38 percent of large truck crashes that involve an injury or fatality are caused by decision errors such as speeding and following other vehicles too closely.

  1. Recognition Errors

Recognition errors, such as inattentive driving and distracted driving, contribute to about 28 percent of large truck wrecks that result in injury or death. In 2007, recognition errors played a role in about 22,000 truck accidents.

  1. Non-Performance Issues

Non-performance issues were at least partially responsible for 9,000 accidents in the FMCSA study. Examples of non-performance issues include having heart attack or stroke.

  1. Performance Errors

Performance errors caused about 9 percent of large truck crashes that resulted in injury or death in 2007. These errors include overcorrecting and not taking a wide-enough angle when turning.

As you can see, the vast majority of truck accidents involve some form of driver error. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a preventable truck wreck, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

4 Tips to Avoid Semi-Truck Accidents in Missouri

Now that you know the most common causes of truck wrecks, it’s time to put that knowledge to good use and take steps to avoid accidents. Here are a few tips to reduce your risk:

  1. Never drive in a truck’s “no zones.” These are the blind spots directly in front of the truck, directly behind, and on either side. If you cannot see the trucker in the side mirror, he or she most likely cannot see you.
  2. If a semi-truck is tailgating you, change lanes when it is safe to do so, and let the truck pass.
  3. When you’re approaching an intersection and a truck appears to be turning, expect it to enter into the adjacent lane to take a wider turn angle.
  4. Never change lanes directly in front of a big rig.

Discuss Your Case with a Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer Today!

Unfortunately, you could follow all of the tips above and still end up in a devastating truck wreck. If you were injured by a negligent truck driver, contact Gump & Faiella to discuss your options for recovering compensation. Call 800-264-3455 email us at info@tgflaw.com to schedule a free consultation with a Missouri truck accident attorney.

 

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