Every country’s economy, including that of the USA, is significantly influenced by the trucking industry. The majority of American goods are still transported by big trucks like 18-wheelers. As per the American Trucking Association, big commercial rigs moved 10.23 billion tons of cargo in 2020, accounting for 72.5% of all domestic freight movement. However, this is only partially surprising due to the number of trucks that can be found daily on US roads.
Although commercial trucks are essential for moving goods across the nation, they also have a duty to do so in a safe manner. Almost every year, commercial trucks lead to thousands of collisions with passenger cars in the US, and due to their size, these collisions are frequently fatal. If you were hurt in a crash with a big rig or anyone among your friends or family died as a result, you might need a truck accident attorney to help you solve the legal obligations involved.
3 Main Reasons Why Trucks Collide in the US
Truck accidents are particularly terrifying because they have a higher likelihood of causing fatalities or severe injuries than other types of collisions. In the US, there are about 388,000 truck collisions annually. This makes up 6.5% of all accidents in the nation. Read below to find out the most common causes of such accidents.
Driving Too Fast and Overtaking
A trucker might often be late in delivering certain goods, or they may have to cover a long distance within a given time period. Due to the strict deadlines, truckers frequently drive speedily on the highways, surpassing other vehicles carelessly.
In such situations, to keep their jobs, the drivers even forget the vehicle size they are moving in, their surroundings, or the road condition, which can ultimately cause dangerous vehicle collisions.
If you ever see a big truck barreling down on you from the back through your rearview mirror, you’ll do whatever it takes to avoid it. Getting out of the way requires veering off the road, which might suddenly lead you to a different lane or off the road, causing accidents.
Driving at Night
Driving at night is hazardous. The casualty rate per km is nearly triple during the night compared to driving during the daytime. In addition to having poor vision in the dark, many individuals driving at night are also sleepy, drunk, or sometimes both.
For truck drivers, driving while fatigued or intoxicated can be extremely risky. These issues can make it difficult for them to make decisions, take longer to react, interfere with their vision, and even make them drowsy while driving.
Although you’ll occasionally have to drive late at night, remember to go carefully, remain sober, and if you start to feel exhausted, either permit another person to drive or halt for a while and take a nap.
Bad Weather
In the USA, accidents due to bad weather claim more lives each year than severe climatic conditions like thunderstorms, hurricanes, and heavy rains. Roads can become slippery from downpours, and various weather factors can negatively impact visibility. While weather-related incidents may occasionally be attributed to an “act of God,” a defendant can be named at other times.
Every year, travelers are exposed to various weather-related dangers, such as wet roads, floods, frost, icy pavement, snow/slushy pathways, wind blows, etc. For example, if too much ice gets collected or melts on the roads owing to heavy snowfall and is not cleaned timely, it can cause accidents.
Conclusion
Rash driving, overtaking, night driving, and harsh weather are all significant factors responsible for truck accidents in the US. While many factors can lead to truck accidents, a few of them are more prevalent, and it is possible to prevent them by taking the proper measures.
