- Driver Error: Truck accidents often take place due to poor decisions by the truck driver. Some of these include: driving under the influence, insufficient training, speeding to meet unrealistic deadlines, not securing heavy loads properly, driving a truck that is in need of repairs, driver fatigue, and aggressive driving practices.
- Dangerous Actions of Passenger Vehicle: Although rare, some truck accidents are caused by a small passenger vehicle. These can start with unsafe practices such as: trying to get ahead of a truck and not managing to accelerate fast enough, driving between commercial trucks without keeping sufficient distance from the back and front of the truck, changing lanes suddenly and coming in front of a speeding truck, entering traffic incorrectly and causing truck drivers to brake or turn abruptly.
- Unavoidable and Unforeseen Circumstances: Occasionally circumstances are beyond a truck driver's control such as: oil spills during rain make roads more slippery, swerving or turning suddenly to avoid colliding with a broken down car or a pedestrian, sudden mechanical or brake failure causing a driver to lose control.
The Causes of Trucking Accidents
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, around 500,000 trucking accidents occur each year in the United States. 5,000 of these accidents result in fatalities. One out of every eight traffic fatality involves a trucking collision.
Many factors can cause a dangerous truck accident. Here is a list of the most common: