Causes of Tractor Trailer Accidents
Sharing the road with tractor trailers can sometimes be unsettling. Unfortunately, 18 wheelers can also cause serious injury and even death to motorists on the road who are in a collision with a large truck. Weighing ten times as much as a car, the slightest mistake or miscalculation on the part of a tractor trailer driver can lead to a horrendous accident.
Tractor trailer accidents can be caused because of:
- Aggressive driving: Keeping a deadline can be extremely stressful for truck drivers. If they are behind schedule it may cost them their bonus or even their job. As a result, they may exhibit aggressive behavior. Aggression behind the wheel can lead to severe injuries and there is no excuse for this type of driving. Contact a Memphis tractor trailer accident attorney if you suspect an aggressive driver caused your injury.
- Driver fatigue: Tractor trailer drivers usually work long hours through the night and, consequently, experience driver fatigue on a relatively regular basis. However, every commercial driver must adhere to the hours of service rules set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Board. These rules limit the amount of time drivers can operate their vehicles. Exhausted drivers may swerve, speed up, or drive erratically and are extremely dangerous to everyone on the road.
- Shifting cargo: If a truck driver is carrying heavy cargo that shifts back and forth, the vehicle may become unbalanced and uncontrollable.
- Poor maintenance: Tractor trailers are made up of several precise parts and mechanisms that must be inspected and maintained regularly. Failure to properly maintain all mechanical parts of a tractor trailer cause malfunctions, which can lead to injury and death.
- Driving while intoxicated: Not only is driving while drunk illegal, it is also hazardous to everyone on the road. Driving while drunk or under the influence of drugs is especially dangerous for tractor trailer drivers because their vehicles are so massive.
- Distraction: Looking away from the road for even a moment can lead to catastrophic injury. Tractor trailer drivers who fail to pay attention to their surroundings because of cell-phones, radios, and other distractions pose a serious risk to their fellow drivers.
Memphis Tractor Trailer Accident Attorneys Can Help You Seek Compensation
Tractor trailer accident attorney Drayton D. Berkley, of the Berkley Law Firm, can help you pursue compensation for your injuries if you have been involved in a trucking collision. With the help of his skilled staff and an array of experts, he is determined to fight for the rights of truck accident victims.
