Common Causes of Truck Accidents and How to Avoid Them

Truck accidents can cause catastrophic injuries. And that’s why we are going to discuss the most common causes of truck accidents. According to the National Safety Council (“NSC”), in 2022, 5,837 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash, a 1.8% increase from 2021 and a 49% increase in the last 10 years. The involvement rate per 100 million large-truck miles traveled was up 3% from 2021 and 24% in the previous 10 years.

The NSC defines large trucks as medium or heavy trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds. This includes commercial and non-commercial carriers but not motor homes or buses. 

The NSC further stated that large trucks accounted for:

• 6% of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes
• 10% of total vehicle miles traveled

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

The following are major common causes of truck accidents:

Truck Driver Negligence: Drivers are under extreme pressure to deliver their loads quickly and meet company and dispatcher time schedules. This often results in speeding, tailgating, making improper lane changes, and using illegal stimulants to stay awake. 

Improperly Loaded Cargo: Although there are federal and state regulations regarding loading and tying down cargo, these rules are often honored in the breach. The result can be cargo spillage and debris on heavily trafficked and high-speed roads and highways. Other common causes of truck accidents include overloaded trailers, uneven weight distribution, and lack of cargo covers. 

Poor Truck Maintenance: Talking about other common causes of truck accidents, poor truck maintenance is one we can’t neglect. Faulty brakes, mismatched tires, unbalanced or overinflated tires, defective wheel couplings, ineffective windshield wipers, and dirty mirrors can all result in serious truck accidents.

How To Avoid Truck Accidents 

Give the truck plenty of space: Trucks are large and require much more space to turn and spot. A common rule of thumb is to count 4 seconds between you and a truck.

Stay out of the truck’s blind spot: Trucks have much bigger blind spots than cars. If you can’t see the truck driver, he probably can’t see you. Here are some suggested distances to keep in mind:

• Stay 20 feet away from the front of the truck
• Stay 30 feet away from the back of the truck

Pass Quickly: Pass quickly, only on your left, never on hills, and don’t pull ahead of the truck until you can see the driver in your mirror. 

Use Your Signals: Always use clear signals so the driver can anticipate your actions.

Avoid Road Rage: Don’t pick a fight with the driver of a vehicle that is many times bigger and heavier than yours. Stay calm and carry on.

Contact a Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer Today

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident that you believe was not your fault, contact Pathway Law Firm for a free consultation. Understanding the common causes of truck accidents can help strengthen your case and establish liability. You may be entitled to economic damages, which include medical costs and lost wages; non-economic damages, which include pain and suffering and loss of consortium damages; and punitive damages in the case of egregious driver conduct. Our experienced truck accident attorneys will help you obtain the compensation you deserve.