| Related Links: |
Large commercial trucks are frequently involved in accidents throughout Sarasota, statewide and nationwide. While many truck drivers and those in the industry believe drivers of cars to be one of the main causes of truck crashes, information from the Department of Transportation can prove otherwise. Truck drivers were often found at fault for causing the majority of trucking accidents. In fact, in crashes that were caused by large trucks, recent information indicates that:
- 87 percent of truck accidents were caused by driver failure
- 10 percent of truck crashes occurred from vehicle failure
- 3 percent of truck wrecks were from environmental conditions
The Department of Transportation worked with trucking companies to closely look at truck accidents and found that over 50 percent of truck rollover accidents were caused by drivers not adjusting their speeds correctly. We have all seen trucks barreling down the road—going way too fast. When truckers don’t take into consideration their loads and speeds while maneuvering curves, rollover crashes can occur. The other causes of rollovers were from driver distractions, falling asleep at the wheel, over-steering, load weight, and balancing issues.
What this information reveals is that the following factors play a major part in serious and fatal trucking accidents:
- Driver error
- Driver speed
- Driver recognition issues
- Driver decision issues
- Driver distractions
- Driver fatigue
- Cargo loading issues
- Truck mechanical failures
While there are a number of different things that can lead to a truck crash, the facts remain that truck drivers need to do a better job of following the road rules, making better decisions, and sharing the road in order to help reduce trucking accidents.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, we encourage you to request a FREE copy of our book, What You Need to Know After a Florida Auto, Truck, or Bike Accident.
