Common Truck Accident Causes

Our nation depends on large commercial trucks to transport consumer goods, gas and oil, and other items across the country. Because of their size and weight, it is vital that drivers and trucking companies practice safe and responsible practices to avoid accidents and serious injuries. However, truck accidents are still common and can involve serious, and sometimes fatal, injuries to both the trucker and other innocent drivers. While certain truck accident causes are more common than others, the attorneys in Scranton, PA, at Foley Law Firm can pursue legal recourse for all truck accident causes, as well as help you seek compensation if your injuries were caused by the neglect of another party.

Strict Safety Regulations

Commercial trucks are enormous in both size and weight. Because semi trucks are vastly larger than the average passenger car, they are held to a much stricter set of rules and regulations. Each commercial truck undergoes rigorous testing to ensure the brakes, lights, wiring, gauges, fuel systems, tires, and all other aspects of the truck are performing up to national safety standards. When these standards are not met, the consequences can be devastating, and even fatal. If a trucking company, driver, or other party's negligence caused your injuries, the attorneys at Foley Law can seek to collect compensation for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and other monetary damages.

Common Truck Accident Causes

While the cause of any given motor vehicle accident can vary dramatically, there is a wide range of common truck accident causes:

Brake Problems

According to the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), brake problems contribute to the largest number of crashes including large trucks. Faulty brakes can be detrimental to other motorists on the road because 18-wheel trucks typically weigh over 80,000 pounds, and therefore need more time to come to a complete stop. If faulty brakes contributed to your crash and injuries, our highly experienced and proven team can pursue legal action to hold the responsible liable. We can pursue all legal options, including if the brakes were defective, the driver or trucking company did not properly maintain the brake system, and many others.

Unsafe Driving

If a truck driver is operating their vehicle aggressively or while deprived of sleep, distracted, or experiencing an illness, the chances of a serious accident increase. For example, the driver could be overtired, leading to lapses in judgment that cause them to nudge or collide with another vehicle. Both fatigue and illness can significantly hinder the driver's ability to make safe and logical decisions when behind the wheel. Distraction is also a serious concern if the driver does not actively have their eyes on the road because they are looking at a cell phone or something else in their vehicle. Truck drivers who choose to drive over the speed limit also put innocent civilians at risk, and can be held responsible for causing an accident.

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Truck Maintenance Negligence

Truck drivers and trucking companies have a strict responsibility to maintain a functional, well-performing vehicle that poses no threat to other motorists' safety. When important gauges, electrical wiring, and other sensors become disabled or compromised, passengers of other vehicles and pedestrians are at risk for injury. Our attorneys can determine the performance of all features of the truck to determine if your injuries were caused by truck maintenance negligence.

Secure Experienced and Proven Attorneys

All of our attorneys are well-versed and knowledgeable in trucking laws and safety regulations. We understand what factors to look for when determining fault in a motor vehicle accident, and we can quickly and efficiently build a case to seek reimbursement of medical bills, lost wages, and any other damages stemming from your accident. Start focusing on your recovery and family while we take care of all the legal matters.