6 Common Truck Accident Causes
Truck accidents occur on the road more often than you might think. Unfortunately, accidents involving trucks are often more dangerous than collisions involving two smaller passenger cars. The good news is that with the right road practices, truck accidents can be minimized. Today we’re going to discuss the most common truck accident causes and what you can do to avoid them.
6 Most Common Truck Accident Causes
Jackknifing
A jackknife accident usually happens when the front vehicle skids but the vehicle’s trailer does not stop or slow down, causing it to collide with the front of the truck. Depending on how strong the momentum is and the weight of the trailer, it may swing from side to side, increasing the risk of an accident.
Causes
Jackknifing is commonly caused by:
- Improper braking
- Equipment failure
- Poor truck maintenance
- Unsafe weather conditions
- Truck driver fatigue
- Unsafe speeds
- Taking a turn too quickly
How to Avoid
Here is how you can help avoid jackknifing:
- Frequently check mirrors for trailer swings
- Keep your trailer full if possible to add traction.
- Avoid slamming on your brakes
Truck Rollovers
A truck rollover occurs when a large commercial vehicle has been overturned. This may happen due to a crash that results in the truck rolling over multiple times or a crash that causes the truck to turn over on either of its sides.
Causes
Truck rollovers are commonly caused by the following:
- Excessive speeding around curved roads
- Abrupt counter steering or swerving too fast
- Truck driver fatigue
How to Avoid
Here are a few measures you can take to prevent truck rollovers:
- Conduct routine vehicle maintenance
- Comply with cargo weight limits
- Prevent driver fatigue by complying with the Hours-of-Service rule
Tire Blowout
A tire blowout is when a tire loses air pressure at such a severe rate that the tire blows and the driver begins to spin out of control.
Causes
There are a wide variety of reasons why someone may experience a tire blowout. Some reasons include:
- Defective tires
- Driver negligence
- Cargo overload
- Incorrect tires
- Potholes
- Bad weather
How to Avoid
Here are the best strategies to avoid a tire blowout:
- Ensure that your tires always have the right tire pressure
- Don’t load your truck to a point where it begins to exceed tire capacity.
- Get your tires checked by a professional routinely
Wide turn
A wide turn occurs when a commercial truck has to occupy an additional driving lane to complete its turn safely. However, making these types of turns is not always safe as these trucks may swing into the lane of traffic.
Causes
Some common causes of wide turn accidents include:
- Failing to use a turn signal
- Going into a right turn with the trailer’s rear too far from the curb
- Entering a turn lane too quickly
- Backing up in order to complete a turn
How to Avoid
To best avoid wide turns, drivers should follow the CDL turning rules, including:
- Turning slowly
- Keeping the rear of the vehicle close to the curb
- Avoid backing up
- Avoid turning wide to the left as you begin turning.
- Turn wide as you are completing the turn.
Blind Spots
While all vehicles have a blind spot, a blind spot accident is most commonly found with semi-trucks because they have the largest blind spot. Ultimately, a blind spot accident occurs when multiple drivers change direction while driving, making it difficult for a truck driver to notice another vehicle because the other driver falls into their blind spot.
Causes
Some common causes of a blind spot accident include:
- Two vehicles changing lanes at the same time
- Merging onto the highway
- Reversing
How to Avoid
Truck drivers should check their blind spots before merging, changing lanes, or turning.
Rear-End
A rear-end truck accident typically occurs when the front of a truck collides with the back of the truck in front of it. This typically happens when highway traffic has slowed due to common road situations like a car accident, rush hour, or a construction project.
Causes
Here are some common causes of rear-end truck accidents:
- Faulty brakes
- Impaired driving
- Trucker fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Defective truck lights
How to Avoid
The best way for truckers to avoid rear-end accidents is to practice safe driving while on the road. This includes:
- Eliminating any distractions and paying attention to the road
- Always driving at a safe speed
- Don’t drive when you’re feeling fatigued
- Maintain a safe following distance
What to Do After a Truck Accident
If you’ve just been in a truck accident, there are certain steps you should take. This includes:
- Call 911: The police will provide you with immediate documentation after the accident.
- Seek Medical Attention: It’s best to get a medical evaluation, even if you don’t appear to be hurt.
- Document Evidence: If you’re uninjured, begin collecting information, such as photos, the contact information of witnesses, other parties involved, notes about the weather conditions, and other pertinent information.
- Get Your Vehicle Appraised: This appraisal will be included as part of your insurance claim and allows your insurance company to know how much your truck is worth.
- Call a Truck Accident Lawyer: A truck accident lawyer can assist you with what steps you need to take next.
Truck accidents are one of the most serious types of accidents on the road. With that said, it takes the responsibility of both truck drivers and other drivers to help lower the risk of an accident occurring.
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, you may be wondering what your next steps are. Regardless of who is at fault, it’s important to seek legal counsel from an experienced truck accident lawyer who can help you navigate the process.
