Causes of Truck Accidents

Large commercial trucks go by different names—big rigs, semis, tractor-trailers, and 18-wheelers being some of the most common. Whatever you call them, commercial trucks are some of the deadliest vehicles on Virginia’s highways. Because of their size and the weight of their cargo, commercial trucks can cause devastating injuries when they collide with smaller vehicles. In fact, almost a hundred people died in truck accidents in Virginia in 2017.

At Herbert E. Maxey, Jr., P.C., we represent motorists injured in trucking accidents, and we are eager to help you, too. Read on for more information about how truck accidents occur.

Driver Error is Often to Blame

The federal government funded a study that analyzed what factors contribute to truck accidents. Based on the analysis, the following are the most common causes:

• Problems with the brakes
• Driving too fast for conditions
• Lack of familiarity with the road
• Road defects
• Driver impairment due to over-the-counter medicines
• Inadequate surveillance of the road
• Driver fatigue
• Pressure exerted on the driver from the carrier
• Illegal move
• Driver inattention
• Distracted driving

As you can see, driver error is often to blame. A driver either operates the vehicle too recklessly or carelessly, or the driver is impaired when he gets behind the wheel by drugs or fatigue. Whatever the reason, innocent victims suffer serious injuries in a crash. To determine who is to blame for your accident, please call Herbert Maxey at 1-800-248-1950 as soon as possible.

Making the Roads Safe

Commercial trucks play a large role in the Virginia economy, transporting our goods around the country and allowing consumers in Virginia to enjoy fresh fruit in the dead of winter.

The federal government has primary oversight of the commercial trucking industry, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has created numerous rules to make trucking safer. For example, truck drivers must adhere to “hours of service” regulations that limit the amount of time they can be on the road when transporting cargo:

• Can drive only a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off work
• Cannot drive more than 14 hours in a day following 10 consecutive hours off
• A 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving
• No more than 60/70 hours of driving in 7/8 consecutive days

Different regulations apply if the truck is transporting passengers instead of cargo. However, both sets of regulations are meant to reduce the incidence of driver fatigue, which historically has been a leading cause of truck accidents.

Other federal regulations prohibit the use of cell phones while the truck is moving, though the laws do allow hands-free devices.

Contact Us Today

If you have been involved in a truck accident, you need compensation to help you recover. At our firm, we help injured victims receive money for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, mental anguish, and pain and suffering.

Contact us by calling 1-800-248-1950. Mr. Maxey is a  truck accident Lawyer in Virginia, and he can analyze your case to check that you have a legitimate legal claim. Mr. Maxey represents injured persons in Richmond, Charlottesville, Farmville, Lynchburg, Danville, Buckingham, Albemarle, Prince Edward, Campbell, Charlotte, Powhatan, Nelson, and other counties throughout Virginia.