There are many different kinds of vehicle on the roadway, and each has its own specific handling needs and space requirements. Tractor trailers are the largest vehicles on most American roadways, and as such, motorists must take special care when sharing the roadway with them. Failure to give a

truck sufficient stopping or turning distance can result in a serious, injury-causing truck accident.

Truck Accidents: Their Causes, Their Outcomes

Like car accidents, truck accidents can result from driver negligence. This can be on the part of the truck driver or another motorist. Driver negligence can be:

  • Distracted driving;
  • Drunk driving;
  • Truck driver miscalculations of truck and road dimensions;
  • Disregard for posted traffic signs;
  • Overloading a truck;
  • Failure to hitch a trailer properly to its tractor.
  • Aggressive driving; and
  • Poor vehicle maintenance.

Another truck accident cause, exhausted truck drivers, is a serious issue that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces specific limits on how many hours truck drivers can drive per day and per workweek.

Because a commercial truck is so much larger and more powerful than a passenger vehicle, the likelihood that a truck accident victim will suffer a serious injury is much greater than the likelihood of a car accident victim being seriously damaged. Truck accident injuries can lead to permanent disabilities, disfigurements, and death.