Truck drivers must complete numerous hours before receiving a commercial driver’s license, and some companies require additional training before they let employees get on the road. These professional drivers must use a higher degree of care on the roadways than the average passenger vehicle driver. Although the industry is highly regulated, some truck drivers still engage in dangerous driving behaviors that precipitate accidents.
Common causes of truck accidents in Springfield include:
Human error – Truck drivers and other drivers on the road often engage in dangerous driving behaviors that cause accidents.
Truck drivers may feel the need to stretch themselves thin to achieve faster delivery times. Drowsy driving impairs a driver’s ability to identify hazards and react appropriately and may affect both truck and passenger drivers’ behaviors.
Driving drunk, distracted, or on medication can contribute to serious truck accidents.
Passenger vehicle drivers may swerve in front of trucks, failing to provide the driver with adequate time or space to stop.
Truck defects – Some truck accidents occur without a truck ever stopping. A malfunctioning part may fly out from under the trailer and collide with another vehicle at force. These accidents have caused impalements, head trauma, and multi-vehicle collisions.
Loading errors – Some drivers load their own trucks, but others simply pick up a trailer and take it on the road. When companies fail to load a trailer properly, the risk of a truck accident increases. The wobbling occurrence known as fishtailing may indicate trailer imbalances.