A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh 20 to 30 times more than a passenger car, which means even a minor error behind the wheel can turn into a catastrophic collision. When these vehicles cause an accident, the people in smaller cars almost always bear the worst of the damage. The reasons behind commercial truck accidents are rarely random, and many can be traced back to decisions made by drivers, trucking companies, or maintenance crews.
Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations
Long hauls and tight delivery windows push many truck drivers to stay on the road far longer than they safely should. Federal hours-of-service rules place a limit on how long a driver can operate before resting, but these limits are often stretched or ignored.
Hours-of-service regulations are enforced because a drowsy truck driver is a dangerous truck driver. When a driver is running on too little rest, their reaction time is severely delayed. They may drift between lanes or even fall asleep at the wheel.
Distracted Driving Behind the Wheel
A truck traveling at highway speed covers a lot of ground in just a few seconds. Any glance away from the road during that span can be enough to cause a serious accident. Because of a commercial truck’s size and stopping distance, distraction carries far heavier consequences than it would in a passenger vehicle.
Common distractions may include:
- Texting
- Talking on a phone
- Eating or drinking
- Adjusting a GPS or radio
- Reaching for items in the cab
- Looking at billboards or roadside activity
Driving Too Fast for the Road Conditions
Rain, fog, ice, construction zones, and heavy traffic all require truck drivers to slow down and increase their following distance. This is because a loaded truck needs far more room to stop than a passenger car, and slick or crowded roads only widen that gap. Drivers who fail to adjust their speed lose the margin they need to brake or maneuver in time.
Improperly Loaded or Overweight Cargo
How a truck is loaded directly affects how it handles. Cargo that is unbalanced, unsecured, or over the legal weight limit can shift in transit, lengthen the distance a truck needs to stop, or cause a rollover. Loose freight may also spill onto the roadway and strike other vehicles. Loading crews and the companies that employ them carry a duty to follow weight and securement standards, and when they fail to uphold these responsibilities, a serious accident can happen.
Inadequate Truck Maintenance and Equipment Failure
Commercial trucks require consistent upkeep due to the hundreds of thousands of miles they spend on the road. When inspections are skipped or repairs are delayed, mechanical failures follow. Several maintenance lapses show up again and again in serious crashes:
- Worn or defective brakes that cannot stop a loaded trailer
- Bald tires prone to blowouts at highway speed
- Faulty or missing lights and reflectors
- Broken steering or suspension components
- Damaged coupling devices that connect the cab to the trailer
Injured in an Atlanta Truck Accident? Find Out If You Have a Claim
Pinning down the cause of a truck accident requires a thorough investigation, and the answer often shapes who owes you compensation. At Monge & Associates, our Atlanta truck accident attorneys will work to build a clear picture of what happened and who is responsible. If you were hurt in a crash with a commercial truck, contact our firm today for a free review of your case.