There are a lot of factors that make truck accidents more complex than car accidents, here are a few of the most significant:
- Size. Commercial vehicles are typically larger and carry heavy loads. A large truck can weigh up to 80,000 lbs, and even smaller commercial vehicles are still several times larger than passenger cars. The sheer size of the truck magnifies the intensity of a crash and the resulting injuries.
- Parties involved. A commercial vehicle has many stakeholders who may be liable when an accident happens.
- Out-of-state. Trucking companies send vehicles all over the country. When the liable party is in another state or country, there are additional barriers to collecting evidence.
A skilled commercial vehicle accident attorney can conduct a thorough crash investigation to get to the bottom of what happened. They know how to get important evidence to support their clients – even when the other side isn’t cooperating – and hold liable parties accountable.
Commercial vehicle accident causes
Commercial vehicle accidents can be caused by a variety of factors, including vehicle malfunctions and reckless driving. Additionally, inadequate training and lack of proper maintenance can contribute to these types of accidents. Some of the most common types of CMV accidents involve:
- Negligence, failure to check blind spots.
- Driver fatigue.
- Aggressive driving, road rage, tailgating.
- Wide turns.
- Equipment failure, poor vehicle maintenance, tire blowouts, brake malfunction.
- Overloaded truck, cargo shift.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, DUI, DWI.
- Speeding encouraged by pressure to meet deadlines.
- Inexperience, unfamiliarity with the route, lack of training.
Any of these deficiencies could cause a serious accident like a T-bone, blind spot wreck, rollover, jackknife, rear-end accident, head-on collision, or underride.