Common causes of truck accidents caused by commercial drivers | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

There are approximately 500,000 commercial truck driving accidents in this country every year. One of the most common causes is driver fatigue, which is responsible for almost 40 percent of truck accidents. This is often due to the trucking company’s unrealistic delivery schedules they often have their drivers on. The pressure this schedule may put the driver under can also lead to the truck driver traveling at excessive speeds or failing to follow other rules of the road. Other causes include:

  • Overloaded or improperly loaded trucks: When trucks are carrying too much weight, or loads that are not evenly distributed throughout the vehicle, there is a much greater chance the driver will lose control of the truck, which often results in over-turned accidents. 
  • Improper training or lack of experience of the truck driver.
  • Improper inspection and/or maintenance of the truck. 
  • Truck drivers operating the vehicles under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 
  • Drivers with a reckless driving history. 

 

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