3 common causes of commercial vehicle accidents

On Behalf of | Nov 17, 2022 | Motor Vehicle Accidents

Accidents involving commercial vehicles make up a high number of crashes in Louisiana. According to the Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety (CARTS), 90 and 31 fatal crashes of single-unit trucks and trucks/tractors respectively were reported in 2021. This is an increase from 85 in 2020.

If you are in a crash with a commercial vehicle, it could be due to different causes. Understanding them will help you in your claim. The common ones include:

1. Drowsy driving

Unfortunately, some commercial vehicle drivers work for long hours with little rest. This tiredness makes them sleepy, leading to reduced attention and slow reaction times. A drowsy truck driver may notice your car when it’s late and take longer to brake or steer accordingly.

2. Reckless activities

Dangerous driving activities like speeding, changing lanes unsafely and disobeying traffic laws cause truck accidents. Even though some drivers are careless, others are encouraged to do so by payment systems. 

Many commercial drivers are paid by mileage or percentage of the load. A driver may be tempted to drive faster or ignore rest periods to complete more miles or deliver more loads. This results in dangerous behaviors on the road and exhaustion.

3. Company’s fault

A company may also be at fault for a commercial vehicle accident. Hiring unskilled drivers or not training them properly is one of the ways they can be responsible. Not maintaining vehicles to advisable standards is another factor. 

Besides, it’s unsafe for a company to have unrealistic expectations and schedules that make drivers engage in reckless activities. Overloading trucks also puts fault on a company. 

Commercial vehicle accidents can lead to severe consequences. It helps to be careful when driving near them. If you suffered injuries from such an accident, legal guidance can help you obtain fair compensation for your losses.