Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Louisville

Distracted driving remains a leading factor in car and truck accidents. It is ironic that the same devices that help us find our destinations are the devices that cause the most accidents. Truck drivers are not immune from being distracted by their cell phones, but there are other distractions, such as the following:

• Updating GPS settings
• Changing the radio
• Eating or drinking
• Reaching for an item
• Daydreaming

Whenever a truck driver takes their eyes off the road, even for a second, it can lead to a serious accident.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates many aspects of commercial truck driving, starting with the hours of service regulations. Despite those limits, drivers can still drive when drowsy, which can lead to micro-sleeping and loss of control of the rig.

Reckless driving covers a lot of bad driving behaviors, including the following:

• Speeding
• Sudden lane changes
• Failing to signal
• Tailgating
• Braking abruptly
• Road rage

Any one of those behaviors can lead to a crash on the road.

Kentucky law has specific penalties for driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. However, the threat of those penalties is not always enough to prevent the bad behavior. Whether that truck driver is carrying a full cargo or driving an empty truck, driving under the influence rarely has a good outcome.

Every vehicle has a blind spot. That is the space in a side view mirror where you can’t see an approaching car. A truck driver only has access to their side view mirrors, and because of the size and height of the trucks, their blind spots are substantial. If a truck driver makes a lane change and turns into a blind spot, it could trigger an accident.

To obtain a commercial driver’s license, a prospective trucker needs to spend nearly a month in classroom courses and a significant amount of practical driving time. Even with all of that work, there is still a level of experience that truckers need in order to stay safe on the road. Sometimes, a trucking company will hire drivers who lack thorough training. If that is a factor in an accident, the driver and the trucking company could be named as at-fault parties.

Despite the drama created by reality TV shows, not every truck drives on icy roads. When a responsible truck driver encounters poor road conditions, they will typically pull over and wait for the weather to pass or severely adjust their driving. However, there are scenarios where a trucker could encounter shifting weather patterns that can compromise their ability to maintain control of their rigs.

Braking distance is the amount of road that a vehicle needs to come to a complete stop after driving at normal speeds. For a car, the braking distance is equal to traveling the length of a football field. A commercial truck needs two football fields of braking distance. That is why maintaining brakes is vital for every truck driver. The FMCSA requires truck drivers to regularly inspect and repair (if needed). Failure to comply can result in a dangerous runaway truck incident.

Trucking companies that don’t provide adequate maintenance could also be an issue, and that is another incident in which a trucking company could be named in a lawsuit.

Truck drivers are under an extreme amount of pressure to make their deliveries. Bad weather and traffic congestion can upend their projected delivery schedules. That adds to the pressure and can compel a truck driver to speed and drive more carelessly.

Nothing can bring back a loved one or restore a victim to their pre-crash state, but an experienced attorney can help a victim and their family receive compensation for their injuries or the loss of a loved one. We will thoroughly investigate all the factors that contributed to the accident and gather all the relevant evidence, such as police reports, truck driving logs, and company records. We can also calculate your economic and noneconomic losses to create a fair and reasonable settlement.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of one of the common causes of truck accidents, you need a Louisville personal injury lawyer to represent you. Call the skilled lawyers at McCoy & Hiestand, PLC today to schedule a free consultation.