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Three Common Causes of Trucking Accidents

Trucking accidents have increased by 20 percent over the past 20 years. Semi-trucks, because of their large size and heavy weight, can cause much greater harm in a crash than ordinary motor vehicles. Fully loaded trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, so it’s no wonder they often cause severe injury and death when they collide with other motor vehicles.

Truck drivers face challenges different from those faced by drivers of other types of vehicles, particularly demanding schedules and strict regulations pertaining to their industry. Here’s a look at some of the more common causes of trucking accidents:

Driver error: Error on the part of the truck driver is the most common cause of trucking accidents. Typical examples of driver error or negligence include drug or alcohol abuse, speeding, distractions such as texting while driving, improperly loaded cargo, and failure to carry out inspections to make sure cargo is secure.

Drowsy driving: Truck drivers face enormous pressure to comply with, or even beat unrealistic delivery demands. The drivers often skimp on sleep to keep up with these schedules, which leads to “highway hypnosis,” slow reaction times and, ultimately, crashes.

Equipment failure: Trucking equipment failure is the cause of many trucking accidents. Trucks are highly intricate and require exacting manufacture and maintenance to be safe. Equipment failure can be caused by manufacturing and design defects of a vehicle or its parts, such as defective tires or engines. Equipment failures are also caused by improper maintenance of a truck’s brakes, tires or other components.

If you’ve been involved in a trucking accident caused by the error or negligence of a truck driver, trucking company or trucking manufacturer, contact an experienced Pittsburgh personal injury law firm to hold the responsible parties liable.

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