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Top Causes of Truck Accidents That You Need to Be Aware Of


Truck accidents are not only dangerous, but they can also be costly for victims. The trucks themselves are large and heavy, often causing significant damage to other vehicles it collides with. It’s always best to avoid getting into an accident by keeping your distance from trucks when driving on the highway. However, several factors may cause truck accidents. Here are the most common ones

Distracted Drivers

Distracted driving has become a major problem in Oklahoma in recent years as drivers engage in texting or use their cell phones while driving. However,  this isn’t the only way that drivers can become distracted. Any activity that takes your eyes off the road or diverts your attention from driving can compromise safety. If you have been involved in a  truck accident because of a distracted driver, you should contact Oklahoma City truck collision attorneys as soon as possible, especially if the accident occurred in the state of Oklahoma. Legal counselors will guide you through the legal process and help you get compensation for any damages that you sustained, including medical expenses and lost wages.

Overloaded Truck

Trucks are only designed to carry a maximum load capacity. If they exceed this limit, it can cause them to lose control of the vehicle or make sudden turns. This is one of the most common causes of truck accidents. The problem has become so bad that many trucks have signed on their sides warning motorists to stay away if they are overloaded. In many cases, if a truck’s load causes an accident, the company will be liable for paying any damage claims from victims. However, even if the truck driver was also responsible for the accident, you may still be able to get compensation.

Drunk Driving

Many people don’t realize that a drunk driving accident can also cause significant damage to the vehicles involved. While many small accidents might be fixed by the drivers themselves, accidents involving intoxicated truckers very often result in victims needing to get their vehicles repaired or replaced. You should contact an attorney as soon as possible if you have been the victim of a drunk driving accident and your vehicle needs to be repaired due to damages from another driver’s negligence.

Truck Driver Fatigue

Operating large vehicles such as trucks can be very tiring and exhausting, which is why truck drivers must be supervised 24/7 by a company that requires them to take breaks every once in a while to make sure they’re not getting too tired during their shift. This can help ensure the safety of everyone on the road and reduce the likelihood of accidents occurring because both other motorists and truck drivers need to pay attention at all times. This means avoiding distractions like texting or using cell phones while driving and putting away other objects that may take your eyes off the road for an extended period.

Speeding

Speeding is another major factor in truck accidents as they try to make up time on the road and cut corners around traffic-heavy areas. When a speeding driver gets into a collision, it often results in significant damage being done to both vehicles involved. In some cases, the speeding driver’s vehicle may not be able to handle the increased speed and structural failure can occur due to overcompensation for enhancements that have been made which you might not know about with rented trucks or company vehicles. However, when this happens, it is much more likely that the speeding driver will be found at fault for the accident because they were not in control of their vehicle.

Inclement Weather

It’s never a good idea to drive in inclement weather conditions that might impede visibility or cause slippery roads, regardless of what type of vehicle you’re operating at the time. Many truckers don’t drive when there’s bad weather because they know how dangerous it can be for them and everyone else on the road once they lose complete control over their vehicles and skid into oncoming traffic or off the road and into a body of water that they can’t escape. It is always advised to pull over and wait out the storm instead of continuing to drive since there’s such a high chance of getting involved in an accident as a result.

Poor Truck Maintenance

Truck drivers are supposed to keep their trucks well-maintained to ensure they can safely transport their cargo, but many fail to take this seriously and/or don’t know how important it is. If a truck has defective equipment like brakes or tires, it might not be able to stop when the driver tries to apply them which puts everyone on the road in danger of being involved in an accident that was preventable if the truck had been running correctly. Truck drivers have a responsibility to operate vehicles that are safe for everyone else on the road so if you’re injured because of poor maintenance, you may be entitled to compensation via a personal injury claim.

Driving safely on the road is critical for preventing crashes and ensuring you stay injury-free while operating any type of vehicle. However, it’s important to remember that not everyone else will drive responsibly despite your diligence in doing so. This is why it’s so important to know the most common causes of truck accidents and what you can do to avoid being involved in one yourself.

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