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3 of the Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents

by on Wednesday, October 12, 2011  —  Truck (Tractor-Trailer) Accidents

One thing we encourage everyone to do is to practice caution while on the road, ESPECIALLY when driving near a large truck.  It is important to be aware of your surroundings and how quickly accidents can occur if you are not prepared. 

Here are 3 Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents:

  1. Driver Fatigue- Picture this:  Truck Drivers drive all the way across the country at times, depending on the locations and company they work for.  There are occasions where trucking companies demand the driver to be at a certain destination at a certain time.  This allows for potential lack of sleep and driver fatigue.  A truck driver falling asleep at the wheel happens more often than I would like to say.  Please be aware of this and use caution when driving near a Tractor Trailer because you never know when this may happen.
  2. Speeding- As said in the number 1 reason, there are specific times that truck drivers are expected to make their destinations.  If they are attempting to make good time, they may tend to go over the speed limit.  This is VERY dangerous because a Semi-Truck can weigh up to 80,000lbs and that + speed DO NOT mix.  If an accident occurs between a small vehicle and a large truck as a result of speeding, it can be deadly. 
  3. Driving Under the Influence- There are many truck drivers who take over the counter and prescription drugs  to stay awake; or may take prescription drugs for a number of other reasons, which could potentially cause them to be less responsive to what is going on while on the open road.  Also, there is the possibility of substance abuse problems associated with drinking or other drugs.  This makes being on the road a scary place to be…especially at night. 

We STRONGLY encourage you to be careful and to not linger near large Semi-trucks while on the road because you never know when you will run into that unsafe driver…or should I say, you never know when they will run into you.  Be safe and give us a call if you or someone you know has been involved in a truck accident: 1-888-WE-MEAN-IT (888-936-3264).