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Truck Accidents Caused by the Trucking Industry

Posted on 30. Oct, 2009 by Admin in Uncategorized

When investigating an accident there may be some initial assumptions on what caused the accident. It may have been excessive speeding by the truck driver. It could have been a poorly maintained truck. It might even be a load that is excessive or unbalanced. These are just some of the factors that cause trucking accidents. While they may seem like these are the fault of the driver and his trucking company, many can actually be traced back to the trucking industry itself.

One factor involves inadequate training. All drivers do no receive the same level or quality of training. There are many reputable and accredited truck driving schools who strive to graduate safe and responsible professional truck drivers. Unfortunately, there are too many training schools who only give rushed training. They teach just enough to get the driver through a licensing exam. They fail to teach good driving technique and road safety concerns. They don’t teach the student driver good defensive driving skills. There are too many truck accidents that might have been avoided if the driver had received quality training.

A second way that the trucking industry causes accidents is their system of compensation. Many trucking companies have pay schedules that encourage speeding because they pay more if the truck reaches the destination sooner. This makes drivers speed on their routes hoping to make the extra money. Truck speeding can cause many different kinds of accidents including rollovers and jackknives.

These compensation plans that are based on delivery time may also tempt the truck driver to avoid sleep. They may figure that it is worth more to stay on the road a few more hours than pull over to sleep. They make take prescription or non-prescription stimulant drugs to help keep them awake. These drugs can affect their decision making capabilities and may slow their reaction times. They can also wear off suddenly, making the driver very drowsy and in danger of falling asleep while driving.

Another factor that is related is the expectations of the trucking industry. Many have schedules that are almost impossible to meet. They do not take into account factors such as inclement weather or road conditions. They work out schedules that they expect the truck drivers to meet. These unrealistic expectations put a burden on the drivers, forcing them to drive faster to meet the deadlines. They speed down the highways disregarding any risks that could cause an accident.

When a truck accident occurs often the initial blame is put on the truck driver. It is true that they will carry some responsibility. They drove too fast and too reckless. They failed to keep their truck properly maintained. They did not do the safety checks that are required before and during trips, including making sure tires are properly inflated and brakes are in good order. But while they have some responsibility, there are practices of the trucking industry and its companies that can contribute to many of the accidents involving commercial trucks.

This article is not to be construed as legal advice.

Related Legal Website: For additional reading on truck accidents please visit the Law Offices of Gordon & Elias, LLP. Serving clients nationwide and in North Florida.

Tags: personal injury lawyer, semi accidents, truck driver training