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What are some common causes of truck accidents?

On Behalf of | Feb 4, 2022 | Trucking Accidents

As you travel down the highway, you may notice a truck swerving wildly or changing lanes without warning.

This kind of behavior can lead to a truck crash. Learning about the most common causes of these crashes can help you if you sustain injuries in one.

Fatigue and tiredness

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, errors due to lack of sleep can cause a driver to sideswipe or ram into another vehicle. Due to the size and handling of most trucks, even a few seconds of distraction from fatigue can lead to a crash.

Truck drivers may resist pulling off the road to rest when they feel as if they need to sleep. Many truckers travel overnight, which can make it even harder to see other vehicles around them.

Substance use

Drinking alcohol or taking drugs before operating a truck can severely impair your decision-making skills and reaction time. Truck drivers who are under the influence can struggle to drive in a straight line and can take turns too quickly.

They also may fail to react in time to brake for another car or pedestrian in their way. Since trucks take longer to come to a full stop, this can be deadly.

Speeding

Whether a truck driver is speeding because he or she is late for a delivery or because of anger issues, breaking the speed limit can lead to accidents and injuries.

Truckers may overestimate how skilled they are at maneuvering their vehicles and crash into a smaller vehicle on a highway or back road. Knowing how truck accidents typically occur can help you determine what to do next.