14 September 2019 Durham North Carolina USA Truck of semi truck trailer rolled over crash crashed accident hits bridge and police car

7 Most Common Causes of Semi-Trailer Truck Traffic Collisions

According to the crash statistics of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there are 172,415 large trucks involved in crash events in the United States last 2019. From these collisions, 78,572 were injured while 4,689 died. These statistics show how truck collisions happen so often and risk a lot of lives. This may be because of the extreme size of these trucks, including semi-trailer trucks, that these vehicles are more prone to accidents, much more in poor road conditions. If caution isn’t exercised, there are more factors that can cause truck collisions.

 

  1. Fatigued Driver

Depending on the load, trucks oftentimes are used to travel heavy materials to further distances in just a short period of time. Due to the long drive, truck drivers can easily get fatigued especially if they are required to drive at nighttime. This can cause them to feel sleepy and uneasy during the trip – removing their full attention on the road. 

 

  1. Improperly maintained truck

A poorly maintained truck has a higher risk of getting into a collision. Sometimes, drivers travel using these trucks without knowing that they are at the verge of malfunctioning during the drive. The truck has to be regularly checked if the engines and braking system are faulty or the tires are worn out to avoid semi-trailer truck collisions.

 

  1. Inexperienced driver 

Due to high demands for truck drivers, sometimes, companies hire those who have less experience in driving large-sized vehicles. Drivers who have no expertise with these type of vehicles are prone to getting into accidents.

 

  1. Speeding

Drivers who travel during the night tend to drive beyond the speed limit since there are only a few vehicles on the road. However, overspeeding can cause the driver to lose control of his extreme-sized and heavy vehicle.

 

  1. Drugged driver

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is still one of the most common causes of road accidents even with truck-related accidents. Alcohol and drugs can impair a driver from his senses causing them to lose focus from driving.

 

  1. Improper loading of cargo and overloading

The lack of knowledge on how to properly distribute the weight of the load can also higher the risk of semi-trailer truck collisions. Improper loading and overloading of cargo can cause the truck to malfunction – blowing out the tires and causing it to tip over.

 

  1. Distracted Driving

Lastly, one of the main reasons for a driver to not completely pay attention to the road is being distracted by other things. Drivers who travel at night often try to entertain themselves. Most common truck driver distractions are their use of cellphones while driving.

 

Other factors that may cause semi-trailer truck collisions:

  • Poor road conditions
  • Another driver’s negligence
  • Bad weather and terrain

 

To avoid this fatal accident, make sure to exercise caution as a driver or as a truck owner. You can save lives, even your own, if you avoid these common mistakes.

 

If you are ever involved in a semi-trailer truck collision, remember that it will be easier if you’ll hire a professional to handle it for you especially if you are undergoing recovery.

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