Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Serving Dallas, DeSoto, Duncanville, Midlothian and Waxahachie, Texas
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ecause of the massive size and weight of trucks, trucking accidents are often catastrophic, resulting in serious injuries and death. The size and structure of trucks and how they are driven is very different from passenger vehicles.
Driver Fatigue. The leading cause of truck accidents is driver favor-far outstripping accidents caused by road conditions or mechanical failure. And the primary cause of driver error is fatigue. Put bluntly, exhausted drivers of big rigs are literally falling asleep at the wheel. Federal regulations mandate that truck drivers have minimum amounts of rest and time off-but drivers and employers often ignore these safety rules in an effort to make more money. It is here where the specialized knowledge and experience of truck accident attorneys makes all the difference. At Polewski & Associates, we know where to look for evidence of driver fatigue and the corporate polices that put pursuit of an extra few dollars over the safety of everyone else using the highways.
Jackknifing occurs when a truck folds as the trailer tries to pass the cab. Jackknifing means the accidental folding of an articulated vehicle (one towing a trailer) such that it resembles the angle of a folding pocket knife. Sudden braking or turning, brake malfunction, wet or otherwise slippery roads, and uneven road surfaces can all cause a truck to jackknife. Jackknifing can be the cause of a serious truck accident or it can happen after something has collided with the truck. Most experienced truck drivers know how to correct a skid before it becomes a jackknife.
Stopping distance required for trucks is much greater than the stopping distance required for passenger vehicles, and trucks that follow vehicles too closely are an accident waiting to happen. Following too closely obviously does not allow a driver enough time to stop in the event the vehicle in front of you brakes suddenly. Not enough stopping distance between the truck and the vehicle in front of the truck can trigger a jackknife and cause a serious accident.
Blind spots in trucks are much larger than in passenger vehicles. We have all seen those signs on trucks that say, "If you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you!" Trucks have large blind spots that prevent them from seeing nearby vehicles. A truck that is changing lanes can easily collide with a vehicle in its blind spot. Experienced truck drivers know how to avoid these collisions, but not all truckers on the road are experienced.
Of course, there are many other causes of truck accidents including driver fatigue, the use of substances, and equipment failure, just to name a few.
To win a truck accident case, your lawyers need to be familiar with the state and Federal regulations concerning the operation and maintenance of trucks and with the documents and records trucking companies are required to keep. They need to know how big rigs work, how truck drivers are trained, and how trucking companies cut corners to make profits.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a truck accident, you need truck accident attorneys with the experience and skill to make the trucking companies and their insurers pay for the devastating injuries truck accidents cause. You need someone like us. We can help.
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If you’ve been injured in a truck accident due to someone else’s negligence, let Polewski & Associates fight for you. Please call today for a case evaluation with an experienced truck accident attorney.
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1229 E. Pleasant Run Road #120 |
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