Here’s the truth: Most truck accidents are not “accidents” at all. Usually, these collisions are the result of someone else’s recklessness. And sadly, they can have life-changing consequences.
According to the most current data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 400 fatal crashes involving a large truck in California in a recent year. That’s a record high over a five-year period.
Understanding the most common causes of truck accidents in the Golden State is one step towards preventing them. Keep reading to learn more from the Los Angeles truck accident attorneys at Custodio & Dubey LLP.
What Are the Top Causes of Truck Accidents in California?
Some of the most frequent causes of truck crashes in California include:
- Drowsy driving: Truckers typically drive for many hours a day, for days at a time. Although regulations limit the number of hours drivers can spend on duty, the amount of driving time required can easily lead to a driver feeling tired.
- Distracted driving: Truck drivers must monitor the condition and performance of their vehicle, their CB radios, and their navigation systems while driving. After hours on the road, drivers may get bored and distracted by their cell phones or other diversions, such as billboards.
- Driving too fast: Speeding is a leading cause of truck accidents. Tractor-trailers need more time to slow down and stop due to their sheer size and massive weight. Driving too fast may make it impossible to avoid a wreck. Speed-related crashes often result in severe injuries due to the violent force of impact on smaller cars.
- Poor maintenance: Truck companies are required to perform regular maintenance on their fleets. Failure to inspect vehicles and make repairs can lead to accidents related to brake failures, tire blowouts, and other breakdowns.
- Alcohol/substance abuse: Truck drivers sometimes turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with long hours and days alone on the road. Drivers may also use stimulants to stay alert, which only have short-acting effects and are no replacement for sleep.
- Equipment failure: Design and manufacturing defects of trucks or truck parts can trigger tragic crashes even with the most experienced drivers behind the wheel.
- Driver inexperience: There is currently a shortage of truck drivers in the United States. Careless trucking companies sometimes put profits over public safety and hire drivers who are ill-equipped to handle the rigors of the road.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you’ve been seriously injured in a truck accident in California, obtaining compensation can restore your financial security and prepare you for whatever the future holds. Let a skilled Los Angeles truck accident lawyer at Custodio & Dubey LLP help you on the path to recovery. Call or contact us for a free consultation to learn your legal rights.
