Causes and Dangers of Large Truck Accidents

October 30, 2009

Large-truck crashes account for a large number of accidents on America's roadways. Some main causes include the condition of trucks and roadways, weather, and the condition of drivers themselves.

October 30, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Causes and Dangers of Large Truck Accidents

Article provided by The Law Offices of Mark Kaire, P.A.
Visit us at http://www.kairelaw.com

Large-truck crashes, or crashes that involve one or more trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds, account for a large number of accidents on America's roadways. Surprisingly, there were a whopping 120,000 large-truck crashes between April 2001 and December 2003. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has named truck driving as the eighth most fatal occupation in the United States, just behind steel workers and electrical power line repairers and installers. The incredibly high number of large-truck crashes and truck driver fatalities on America's roads prompted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to join forces in order to study the causes of large-truck accidents.

The study, which was released in July of 2007, collected data from 963 of the 120,000 large-truck accidents. Examples of the data collected by the study in determining causation include physical condition of the trucks, roadway and weather conditions and the condition of the drivers themselves. Of the most common reasons for the crashes, the study found that the condition of the truck drivers was the most prevalent, particularly the driver's non-performance, recognition and decision. The vehicle itself as a reason for the crash figured into only 10 percent of the cases studied, and the environment only made up 3 percent of the reasons for the crashes.

The study found that driver's non-performance was a cause of 12 percent of the large-truck accidents. Examples of non-performance are sleeping, seizure, heart attack or other physical impairments. As the study looked further into the associated risk factors involved with truck driving, fatigue came to the forefront.

Fatigue is a huge problem for truck drivers. Truck drivers are often given very strict deadlines for delivery - deadlines that many truck drivers struggle to meet. Although many truck drivers resort to short naps at rest stops in their trucks, naps do not always stave off fatigue and sleepiness. Sleep deprivation can cause a variety of problems for drivers, from decision impairment to the inability to operate a vehicle. In worse-case scenarios, fatigued truck drivers can fall asleep while driving, even for a second, which can result in severe collisions.

Other factors associated with large-truck crashes include inattention, unfamiliarity with roadways, traffic changes, illness and speed. While these factors cannot be solely attributed as the cause of the truck accidents, they are strongly associated with the causes.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a large truck it is important to consult with an experienced attorney to discuss your legal rights and options.

Article provided by The Law Offices of Mark Kaire, P.A.
Visit us at http://www.kairelaw.com

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