There are thousands of semi-trucks that run on Texas roads and highways and sometimes cause many road accidents. Recently an Amarillo woman died in a semi-truck accident in Crane County, Texas. Exactly a month later a driver died in an accident with a semi-truck in Frichs, Texas. Due to this accident Highway 136 was closed and the traffic was diverted for hours. These are some examples of accidents happening in Texas. Every year many people get injured or lose their lives in semi-truck accidents.
If you are involved in an accident and seek help to get the right compensation, it’s time to reach a Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer. An attorney will assist you in determining the actual causes of the accident. Some of the causes are mentioned below.
Over speeding and Overtaking: Most of the owners of semi-truck usually demand that truck drivers reach certain destinations within a given time period. This is not always possible due to a number of reasons, including inclement weather conditions and traffic jams on certain sections of the road. However, due to the pressure on drivers to meet these deadlines, as well as the risk of losing their jobs, drivers usually drive over the speed limit. Overtaking by a semi-truck at a break-neck speed upsets the balance of the vehicles on the road, leading to accidents of smaller vehicles. Over-speeding also has the effect of significantly reducing response times. When driving at high speed, drivers may have to apply the brakes immediately or may suddenly turn on another side of the road and lose their control over the truck.
Fatigue: Fatigue is the most common and major cause of semi-truck accidents. Most drivers travel long distances without rest for several hours and with little rest in between. This is mainly because of the owners of the truck companies who demand the delivery of products to certain destinations within a short period of time. Truck drivers find themselves under immense pressure to deliver within the stipulated time frame. Therefore, he does not get proper rest due to which he falls asleep while driving. This is the chance of getting into a semi-truck accident.
Alcohol and drug use: In several cases, semi-truck drivers have been found guilty of using alcohol and non-medicinal drugs while on the job. Some take these substances only at stops in towns across the country while others go a step further and take alcohol and drugs with them while driving. Regardless of how they use these substances, their driving becomes impaired and they can easily lead to an accident. These drugs are not only illegal but are also more responsible for road accidents. Some drugs that drivers use have a greater effect on driving, leading to road accidents.
Distracted driver: When driving for several hours over long distances, drivers get bored on the road and this desire to kill boredom drives them to do one of several things. The most common is to use your phone to read or answer text messages, make phone calls, or even visit your favorite social media sites. Changing the radio station while on the road has also been blamed for distracting drivers, leading to accidents. When on the road in the country, some radio stations have poor reception in some areas. This allows drivers to access their radios and find a station they can listen to. This happens even when they are driving at high speed on the highway. Even a fraction of a second when a driver takes their eyes off the road can be the difference between safety and an accident.
Poor driver training and truck maintenance: Before truck drivers can be allowed to drive large commercial vehicles on public roads, they must set a certain limit on training hours and meet certain minimum requirements. However, not all truck drivers follow these guidelines. Most of the drivers do not have proper training. That’s why accidents are common.
However, truck owners are required by law to check that their vehicles are in top condition before hitting the road. They usually don’t do this due to the costs involved and the time it takes to maintain the trucks – the time they spend driving the rash to deliver. Poorly maintained trucks and untrained drivers are one of the biggest reasons for semi-truck accidents.
These are some causes of semi-truck accidents. If you and your loved ones are injured in a semi-truck accident and want to get the right compensation, contact us. We have a team of an experienced semi-truck accident lawyer who has good years of practice in the same field. For a free consultancy or suggestion contact us at 214-321-4105
