The Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents

05 February 2020

Big rigs, delivery, trucks or any kind of commercial trucks can present some serious threats to other vehicles and passengers present on the road. As per statistics, around five hundred thousand accidents from the total accidents are caused either directly or indirectly by commercial trucks. Out of these five hundred thousand, around five thousand have reported leading to deaths due to truck accidents.

In order to take efficient measures for the prevention of truck accidents, we first need to understand the main causes as well. In this article, we have listed some of the most common causes of truck accidents.

Contents

1 The Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents:

The Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents:

1.Cars Driving in the No-Zones areas

The area behind and beside a truck is known as the ‘No-Zone’ area. A passenger vehicle or car driving in this area automatically puts itself in a dangerous position because the area is not visible by the driver. An accident can occur due to zero visibility.

2. Not Training the Truck Drivers Properly

Driving a truck is entirely different from driving a car and requires an enhanced level of training. Drivers who are not properly trained may not be aware of the safety concerns and important techniques for driving trucks. These drivers, in turn, are more prone to cause accidents later on as well.

3. Speeding and Over Taking by the Truck Driver

Speeding by any kind of vehicle whether it is a truck or a passenger car or even a motorcycle can ultimately lead to an accident. Overtaking while driving especially at high speeds also contributes to a majority of accidents.

Most of the truck drivers tend to over-speed as a result of the unrealistic deadlines given by their companies to deliver goods in a lot of cases. Over-speeding, especially in poor weather conditions, poses a heightened level of danger for all the vehicles present on the road.

4. Poorly Maintained Trucks or Trucks with Faulty Systems

A truck or any kind of vehicle needs to be properly maintained so that it can function well on the road. If a commercial truck is poorly maintained or consists of faulty systems, then it can lead to critical accidents. Faulty brakes, for example, can lead to an accident if a truck driver is not able to stop the truck at point hence leading to a collision.

5. Distracted Driving and Fatigue

Drivers tend to become exhausted and even bored when they have been driving trucks from a long consistent period of time. As a result, they might be prone to falling asleep on the wheel or may look for distractions to keep them entertained. These distractions can include playing games on their cell phone or speaking on the cell phone while not focusing on the road.

Speak to a Truck Accident Lawyer Today!

These were some of the common causes in brief. In order to learn more in detail for filing a truck accident claim, you can choose to contact the Truck Accident Attorney Chicago for better understanding.

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7 Ways Truck Accidents Differ from the Regular Car Crashes

Truck accidents happen due to severe weather conditions, road hazards, and exhausted driving. When the accidents occur, the laws require further steps than are needed for a standard auto accident. Federal and state laws apply to truck accidents, and law enforcement must follow these laws when determining happened. Victims who were involved in a trucking accident review the 7 ways truck accidents differ from regular car accidents. Here are the 7 Ways Truck Accidents Differ from the Regular Car Crashes: 1. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Regulations Apply Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator regulations require all commercial drivers to take a resting period after each 12-hour driving schedule. A failure to follow the regulation increases the risk of a trucking accident. All miles traveled in the truck are recorded in the driver's log. Additionally, the drivers are required to stop at weigh stations that are open throughout the interstate. An imbalanced load increases the risk of the rig jackknifing and causing a trucking accident. All drivers and trucking companies must follow all federal laws pertaining to operating an 18-wheeler. 2. A Higher Potential Payout Through Insurance Trucking companies have more insurance coverage than most auto owners. Victims involved in the trucking accidents have a chance of receiving far more substantial payouts to cover medical expenses and property damage if the truck is owned by a trucking company. The coverage applies to all victims involved in the accident when the commercial driver is responsible for the accident. If the victim's injuries and property damage costs exceed the coverage maximum, the victim can file a lawsuit to collect compensation. 3. A More Thorough Investigation is Required Federal laws require more thorough investigations for all trucking accidents. An investigation determines if the commercial driver followed federal regulations or if the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The truck is evaluated for mechanical failures that contributed to the accident, too. 4. More Substantial Injuries and a Higher Risk of Fatalities The risk of more substantial injuries or fatalities is greater than with regular car crashes. The weight of the commercial truck alone increases the likelihood of a fatal accident. Trucking accidents often include several vehicles and multiple injuries. 5. More Potential Individuals Could be Involved in the Accidents The accountable party isn't always clear at first when it comes to trucking accidents. First, law enforcement evaluates the driver. If the driver didn't cause the accident, the next step is to evaluate the truck for mechanical failures and faulty parts. Any mechanical failures that were due to the trucking company's failure to serve the truck make the trucking company liable. 6. Medical Bills Often Cost More After a trucking accident, the victim's medical bills could cost a lot more than if the victim was involved in a regular car crash. Since injuries are often more severe, the medical costs are greater, and some patients sustain permanent injuries. Traumatic brain injuries are more likely in commercial trucking accidents. 7. More Property Damage Than in Regular Auto Accidents Extensive property damage is possible in a trucking accident. The path of the accident defines how much property damage occurs. If the accident happens on a major highway, it is possible for the accident to involve multiple vehicles and properties that are nearby. Commercial trucking accidents increase the risk of serious injuries and fatalities. Whenever a large-scale truck is involved, the weight and the speed of the truck play a role in the outcome. Victims who were involved in the accidents follow tips for filing lawsuits and collecting compensation for their injuries and financial losses. Read Also: Get to Know Interstate and Intrastate Heavy Haul Transport The Hidden Damages In Workspaces: 5 Steps To Reduce The Risk Of Workplace Injuries!

Will eBikes Save the Planet?

Global warming is a worldwide problem that results from pollution and excess emission of harmful gases such as carbon dioxide. Therefore, different countries have come up with ways on how to deal with this problem. However, it is important for other people to play a part in conserving the environment and doing the right thing. Using electric bicycles is one of the ways you can save the planet. What are the environmental benefits of using eBikes? Zero emissions : An eBike relies on pedal power combined with an electric motor to reduce emissions. eBikes are highly recommended because they run on clean energy that would not harm the environment. Unlike diesel or gas that give off different amounts of carbon, an eBike won’t emit any gas. According to research, you can reduce your carbon footprint by using an eBike to run errands, cruise along with friends and commute to work. They have long-lasting batteries : The batteries of eBikes last for years before they are replaced. This means that, if you own an e-bike, you will reduce waste thus saving the planet. In addition, eBike batteries are mainly made from, unlike other batteries that contain lead. As a result, after replacing the batteries and throwing them away, they will not affect other living things and the environment because lithium is not poisonous. Lead is a heavy metal and when exposed to living things it has carcinogenic effects. Most cars and trucks use lead batteries and hence they have numerous effects on the environment. eBikes can be charged after peak hours : After using your bike for a while, you will have to charge it to continue using it in the future. Since the battery lasts long, you will have plenty of time in the evening to charge it. When you charge after peak hours, you will use the excess power generated by the power company and you won’t cause any blackouts and brownouts. Furthermore, you will not strain the power grid and thus save energy. Saving energy is one of the ways you can make this planet a better place. The bikes can be charged using sustainable energy : You can use wind or solar power to charge the battery of your bike. This is quite helpful because you don’t have to rely on electricity or other forms of energy only. Sustainable energy is mainly renewable and has no effects on the planet whatsoever. As more people are adopting this form of energy, being able to charge your bike using sustainable energy is an advantage. Some sources of energy e.g. generators rely on fuel to generate energy and this has a negative impact on the environment because of the gases emitted. This is not the case with renewable sources of energy such as water, geothermal and wind. eBikes causes less wear and tear on the roads : Besides polluting the air with their exhaust, automobiles destroy roadways because they are heavy and probably they are carrying the heavy road. When the roads break down and require repairs, heavy machinery is used to patch the roads. The heavy machinery gives off emissions which result in global warming. If you start using an eBike, it is not only lightweight but also easy to use on the roads. This will result in less wear and tear, reduce emissions and expensive repairs on the roads. eBikes have no air pollution : Air pollution refers to the production of harmful gases into the atmosphere. Some of the gases produced include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen (IV) oxide. Some of these gases are acidic and when they are emitted, they can cause acid rain. Acid rain has a number of side effects on plants, animals, and structures. Therefore, reducing the emission of these gases from automobiles, factories, and industries is one of the ways to curb this problem. Also, when chlorofluorocarbons are released to the atmosphere, they accumulate on the upper layers of the atmosphere preventing the rays of the sun from escaping. This results in global warming which changes weather and climate in different places cause tsunamis, melting snow, etc. One of the problems in major cities and towns is air pollution in the form of smog. Smog has varying effects depending on its intensity but causing respiratory problems to man is the main side effect. It is evident that there are a number of ways we can save the planet when using an eBike. However, everyone must be willing to cooperate to make it a success. Finally, awareness is quite important because some people might not know the benefits of using eBikes. Read Also : How To Choose The Right Motorcycle Tires For The Motorcycle

10 Causes Of Uber Accidents In The United States

With the rapid growth of rideshares, the number of Uber accidents is also increasing in the United States. Statistics say that in the year 2019, Uber will have completed around 6.9 billion trips. With the increasing market share of over 12 million rides in the year, the number of severe accidents is also increasing. Causes Of Uber Accidents In The United States What possible reasons work behind the increasing number of Uber accidents? Here are the major causes of Uber accidents in the United States of America. Knowing these will help you to check when you are thinking about How To Sue Uber for a Car Crash. If you want to know more on How To Sue Uber for a Car Crash, you can view website. 1. Speeding While Driving Speeding is not only a cause for Uber accidents but also for overall accidents in the USA. Uber drivers get paid on the basis of how many rides they have completed. Now, isn’t it obvious they will mostly want to overspeeding for completing more rides in a day? As a result of this, accidents happen. 2. Inattentive Drivers Recruiting inattentive drivers is another reason, which works behind the increasing number of Uber accidents. In order to get the job of an Uber driver, you just need to have a driving license and at least experience. They do not check one’s driving skills and end up recruiting some inattentive drivers, who become the reason for Uber accidents. 3. DUI Or Drunk And Driving Drinking under the influence is a common road accident cause in the United States of America. Sometimes, Uber drivers also break the rules and run and drive or drive under the influence of alcohol, narcotics. We all are aware of how dangerous drunk driving can be for drivers of any age group. 4. Driver Fatigue Prolonged duty hours make the drivers tired. They became tired and sleepy. Driver fatigue is really dangerous and causes some deadly road accidents. Sometimes it is about a fraction of a second, the driver feels drowsy and closes his eyes for a second, and the accident happens. 5. Tailgating Most of the Uber drivers have a tendency to drive too close to the vehicle in front of them. Eventually, in some cases, it becomes one of the reasons for the increasing number of accidents. So, always ask your driver to maintain a safe distance if he is tailgating with another vehicle. 6. Acts Of Nature Acts of nature are something where humans do not have any control. What we can do is avoid driving during tough natural circumstances, such as torrential rain, sleet, ice, or high winds. All of these can cause devastating road crashes. This is where you probably can not think about How To Sue Uber for a Car Crash. 7. Vehicle Maintenance Failure Safe driving is not enough to reduce the number of Uber accidents. Maintaining the health of the vehicle is also important. So, before riding a vehicle, if you feel that the vehicle is looking too old, you can deny the ride. Every part of the car should be in proper working condition for having a safe ride. 8. Unsafe Lane Change The drivers should follow all the traffic rules and norms. Unsafe or sudden lane changes often cause ugly car crashes. It is always advised to maintain the proper lane when one is driving, and there are no considerations for Uber drivers and you when you are in a hurry. 9. Road Rage Never get your Uber driver involved in road rage. Road rage comes with a lot of other accident causes like overspeeding, unsafe lane change. So, stay away from any kind of road rage and drive safely. 10.Running Red Lights And Stop Signs When there is a red stop sign, you should stop there. It does not matter how important the interview is for you or how long it is taking to go home. Always press the brake when you are in the driver’s seat of an Uber or any other car. Know About The Riders’ Insurance When you are in an Uber cab, and the cab is involved in an accident, you should know about the rider’s insurance. When you are hurt, the company has a rider policy to offer you the necessary amount. Read Also: What to Do When You’re Involved in a Car Accident in Albany How To Find Best Car Accident Lawyer Near You 5 Types of Damages You Can Claim After a Car Accident Lyft vs Uber: What’s the Difference Between the Ridesharing Giants?

The Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents