Katy Truck Accident Lawyers

Exhaustion – In spite of regulations that limit service hours, many commercial truck drivers stay on the road while fatigued, working long hours without taking breaks. According to industry experts, about 13% of truck accidents are due to exhausted truck drivers. 

Bad weather – All of the weak points of commercial trucks, such as their need for greater stopping distances, blindspots, and higher centers of gravity, are exasperated in bad weather. Poor visibility can compromise the truck driver's reaction time and ability to see hazards on the road ahead of time.

Speeding – Driving faster than the speed limit or faster than is safe according to the conditions of the road can pose tremendous risks for other drivers. The momentum gained by a large commercial truck when it is speeding can be devastating in a collision. All the vulnerabilities of trucks such as their high centers of gravity, blindspots, and required stopping distances, can be amplified by speeding.

Untrained drivers – While drivers must complete certain training requirements to pass the CDL test, they do not often have real-world experience in handling a massive truck on the road. Driver shortages have forced some trucking companies to limit the length of their training programs, allowing inexperienced new truck drivers to become hazards on the road.

Poor truck maintenance – Because commercial trucks travel across thousands of miles each year, their mechanical parts are subject to significant wear and tear. The trucks must be regularly maintained and checked for safety, with their tires, brakes, and electrical systems evaluated frequently.

Distracted driving – Driving a truck across the country can be lonely and boring. This makes truck drivers especially vulnerable to distractions, like texting, talking on the phone, online shopping, playing computer games, eating, smoking, drinking, or sightseeing. In recent studies, around 71% of commercial truck drivers involved in accidents were determined to be distracted by something else when the collision occurred.

Intoxication – Despite the lowering of the blood alcohol concentration limit for commercial truck operators and consistent testing, many individuals continue to drive while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol. Some drivers knowingly put others at risk on the road, while others may be unaware that the medications they are taking are inhibiting their judgment and ability to safely operate a vehicle. Even so-called harmless over-the-counter medications can reduce reaction time as well as the driver’s ability to properly survey their surroundings.