The number of fatal semitruck crashes has increased by 5.7% from 2016 through 2018. Because of this increase, the federal government is looking into what’s causing these fatal crashes. The goal is to reduce the number of crashes that occur with these large vehicles.
Many semitruck crashes are caused by the trucker’s actions. This makes them more difficult to avoid because drivers can’t read the trucker’s mind. For those who are involved in a crash with a semi should determine whether they’ll seek compensation. If they do, they’ll need to determine the cause of the crash so they can hold the proper parties liable in their lawsuit.
Some common causes of semitruck crashes include:
- Lane drifting: This is either the trucker or another driver who drifts into another lane.
- Speeding: This includes driving too fast for the conditions, even if the posted speed limits are followed.
- Trucker fatigue or distraction: Anyone driving a semitruck should be well-rested and attentive to their driving duties.
- Shifting cargo: All cargo must be properly secured, and truckers must be trained on how to drive with liquid loads if they’ll be hauling tanker trailers.
- Unexpected events: Some crashes are caused by things like a tire blowout that leads to the trucker losing control of the rig.
When you’re driving around semitrucks, you have to take proper safety precautions to help minimize the likelihood that you’ll be involved in a crash. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to avoid being slammed into by a big rig. Seeking medical care if you’re in a crash is important. Once that’s done, you can choose to seek compensation for your losses.
