Truck drivers are often held to a high standard of care because they have the potential to cause serious injuries and fatalities. Although there are many causes of large truck crashes, most result from some combination of truck driver error and negligence on behalf of trucking companies. In a vast majority of cases, a commercial truck accident is caused by some form or combination of the following factors:

Driver fatigue: Driving a truck is physically taxing work for large vehicles take more effort to brake and accelerate than smaller cars on the road. Long hours behind the wheel without rest are likely to leave any truck driver too tired to drive safely. Driving while fatigued causes many truck crashes each year because it impairs judgment and reaction time.

Driver distractions: Large trucks take longer to stop than cars, making them inherently dangerous in busy traffic, which is why they often travel on highways or through lighter-traffic areas such as cities and towns. It’s critical that drivers focus solely on driving when behind the wheel, taking their eyes off of the road for even a few seconds can lead to devastating results. Drivers who text while driving cause many serious truck accidents.

Improper maintenance: Truck accidents can also occur as a result of defective equipment, such as the failure to maintain brakes or tires.

Commercial truck accidents result in catastrophic injuries. An experienced truck accident lawyer can take on the trucking company and the insurance company representing them to get the most out of your truck accident claim. If a truck accident led to the death of a loved one, you may also be able to file a wrongful death claim that can get you the compensation you deserve and need to move forward.