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The Common Causes of Truck Accidents All Involve Negligence

On Behalf of | Sep 3, 2014 | Blog, TRUCK ACCIDENT INJURIES

Some of the most deadly accidents are caused by commercial trucks that weigh 80,000 pounds fully loaded, and are no match against a 3,000 pound automobile. When the two collide, the results are horrific. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driver fatigue is the number one cause of all trucking accidents in the U.S. today, but the U.S. Dept of Transportation says 90% of all truck accidents are caused by negligence. So which agency is right?

They both are correct, because driver fatigue is a type of negligence. Any act that is out of the realm of being reasonable, can cause injury or harm that is preventable, can be considered negligent. The same thing goes for speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving, and lack of training.

Many trucking companies not only condone this dangerous behavior, but also encourage it by putting undue pressure on the truck driver to deliver his load as quickly as possible. The sooner the delivery, the more money there is to be made. Many drivers are operating their trucks unsafely simple because they are exhausted.

The Federal Government has a mandate called the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act, or MCSIA, which is supposed to ensure there are safe drivers behind the wheel of these enormous trucks, by limiting how many consecutive hours a driver is allowed to operate a commercial truck before he must stop and rest for a set number of hours. All of the driver’s activities must be recorded in a logbook that the DOT (Department of Transportation) routinely inspects at checkpoints set along the roadways. If the logbook isn’t up to date, a fine may be imposed, but that isn’t stopping drivers from making fraudulent entries so they can drive longer hours. As long as drivers keep pushing themselves beyond their limit, truck accidents will continue. If you know someone that has been in one of these accidents, or maybe you were involved in a truck accident, please take the time to contact an experienced truck accident attorney to answer any questions you may have.

The attorneys here at DiCesare, Davidson, and Barker are highly specialized in this area of the law. We have a proven track record that will compensate you for your injuries and suffering. It won’t cost you a thing to talk with us, and our skills and knowledge make a strong suit of armor when it comes to protecting you and your loved ones.