Common Causes of Truck Accidents and Who Can Be Held Responsible

Ever been stuck driving right next to an 80,000-pound big rig on the highway?

Driving near a big rig is intimidating. Truthfully, it should be. If a loaded eighteen-wheeler hits a compact car, there will almost always be devastating consequences.

Here’s the problem:

Truck accidents rarely are accidents. They are preventable.  Someone made an error, took a shortcut or blatantly disregarded a safety procedure.

The good news?

Learn why they’re happening — and who is really responsible — and you’ll be in a much better position to defend your rights and your pocketbook.

The federal government agrees. According to a groundbreaking FMCSA report, driver action or inaction was the major factor in 88% of accidents involving big rigs. Wow. That means negligence on the part of the truck driver was the reason for most truck crashes, not random chance. 

So if negligence on the part of the truck driver, the truck driver’s employer or a defective part caused your collision and resulting injuries, you shouldn’t hesitate to connect with a Dallas truck accident attorney who can investigate what really happened and hold the negligent parties responsible.

What you’ll uncover:

• Why Truck Accidents Are So Dangerous

• The Most Common Causes of Truck Crashes

• Who Can Be Held Responsible

• How To Protect Yourself After a Crash

Why Truck Accidents Are So Dangerous

A loaded semi can weigh 20 to 30 times more than your car.

Do the math. Traveling that much weight at highway speeds, physics does NOT want you to win. You have no chance against a passenger vehicle.

But here’s the part that really stings.

The majority of fatalities in these wrecks aren’t the truck drivers. They’re the occupants of the passenger vehicle. The truck driver walks away…most times. The other driver does not.

That’s exactly why figuring out the cause matters so much.

The Most Common Causes of Truck Crashes

Truck accidents seldom occur without cause. There’s usually something lurking beneath the rubble. Here are some of the biggest ones to watch out for.

Driver Fatigue

This one is massive.

Truck drivers are under constant pressure to meet strict delivery deadlines. So they drive while fatigued, forego rest periods and drive far longer than they should.

The result? A sluggish driver who can’t concentrate and occasionally falls asleep at the wheel. Driving while sleepy is every bit as hazardous as driving drunk — and truck drivers are driving 40 tons of steel.

Distracted Driving

Texting. Eating lunch. Fiddling with the GPS. Checking the dispatch tablet.

At 65 mph, a truck will travel the length of a football field in just 4 seconds. Look away from the road for even a second and tragedy can occur… quickly.

Speeding & Driving Too Fast For Conditions

Large trucks take a lot longer to stop than regular vehicles.

If you speed or don’t slow down for rain/fog/heavy traffic and then need to brake hard, you won’t be able to stop in time. It won’t matter how quickly you react; you’ll realize you’re in trouble too late.

Brake & Equipment Failure

Not all crashes can be blamed on the driver. Occasionally it’s the truck’s fault.

Brakes are often the culprit. Brake-related issues contributed to 29% of crashes in the federal study on crash causation. Bald tires, burnt-out lights, and poor maintenance round out the list.

Improperly Loaded Cargo

Here’s something most people never even think about…

Improperly loaded or secured cargo can shift, spill or cause the whole truck to go out of balance. Overloaded or unbalanced trailers are much more likely to tip or jackknife across the road. When that happens, everyone around you is at risk.

Impaired Driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or even some prescription and over-the-counter medications can impair reaction time and judgment.

It’s also one of the least likely from this list. When it occurs, though, its effects are tragic.

Who Can Be Held Responsible?

Now for the question everyone asks after a crash…

Who actually pays for the damage?

You might have heard this phrase — more than one party may be responsible for a truck accident. Who is at fault can involve multiple parties. Here’s why that matters — knowing who is at fault is crucial to your recovery.

• Truck driver: The driver may be directly liable if he or she was speeding, distracted, driving drowsy, or driving under the influence.

• The trucking company: The company should have hired safe drivers, trained them adequately, and maintained the trucks. If they enforced unreasonable schedules or neglected required maintenance, they can be liable as well.

• The cargo loaders: Whosoever’s company loaded the freight may be liable if the cargo wasn’t secured properly or if it was overloaded.

• The truck or parts manufacturer: This company may be responsible if a defective brake, tire or other part fails.

• A maintenance provider:  Mechanics at third-party repair shops can be liable if negligent maintenance caused your crash.

Can you see how complicated this can become?  That’s why a truck accident case isn’t like your typical bumper ding.

How To Protect Yourself After a Crash

So a truck just hit you. What now?

What you do (or don’t do) in the hours and days following a crash can make or break your case.  Follow this simple game plan:

• Get medical help right away — even if you feel fine.

• Document everything — photos, witness names, and the trucking company’s info.

• Don’t admit fault — keep it simple and stick to the facts.

• Save your records — medical bills, repair estimates, and lost wages.

• Move quickly.   Driver logs, “black box” downloads, etc., do not stay around forever.

The trucking company will have attorneys and investigators on their side hours after the crash. You deserve someone fighting just as hard for you.

Putting It All Together

Truck accidents can be some of the worst wrecks on the road – and most are completely preventable.

To quickly recap, the most common causes are:

• Driver fatigue and distraction

• Speeding and driving too fast for conditions

• Brake and equipment failure

• Badly loaded or overloaded cargo

• Impaired driving

And don’t forget…most of the time the driver is not solely at fault.  Between the trucking company, cargo loader, and parts manufacturer, there could be multiple parties at fault for your injuries.

The bottom line?

If negligence is the cause, you have every right to fight back. Knowing how these wrecks occur is the first step to keeping yourself, your family, and your future safe on the road.