How Do Arkansas Big Rig Collisions Happen?
Truck wrecks can happen for a number of reasons, but one thing that unifies them is that most are actually preventable. Legally, when a preventable collision or incident happens, we often say it was because of negligence. When a driver makes an avoidable mistake because of a distraction, for example, this counts as an instance of negligence.
All drivers, including truckers, have a legal duty to act in order to protect others around them when it’s reasonably safe to do so while behind the wheel. When truckers neglect their duty, our lawyers call the incident negligence. All it takes is for someone to make a single risky decision, and the result could be injuring someone else in a collision.
Here are some of the most common causes of trucking accidents here in Little Rock, throughout Arkansas, and nationwide:
Weight Exceeds Limitations
Semi-trailers can bear a certain amount of weight. If the cargo exceeds that weight, it would put too much stress on the axles. It could cause something to weaken or break and cause an accident.
Improper Distribution
Evenly distributing cargo is important. Having too much weight up front or in the back could throw the vehicle off balance, and the driver could lose control while on the road.
Driver Fatigue
Commercial truck drivers often drive long hours for days on end. While they’re supposed to take breaks to sleep, they may choose to adhere to their schedule rather than rest. Exhausted commercial drivers can fall asleep at the wheel, drift into other lanes, or run off the road.
Driver Error
Driving a semi-trailer takes skill and practice. An untrained or inattentive driver may not give themselves and other drivers enough time to signal a turn or a lane change or may try to maneuver when they’re going too fast.
Distracted Driving
This mistake isn’t unique to truck drivers. Many people drive while they’re distracted and cause accidents. Typical distractions include using cell phones to make calls, text, or check social media. A driver could lose focus on the road if busy changing the radio station or trying to eat and drink while driving.
Reckless Driving
No matter if the truck driver is new or experienced, they can still choose to make unsafe driving decisions. Speeding and tailgating are always dangerous, but even more so with a big rig because it takes longer for them to slow down or stop.
Inclement Weather
Drivers need to drive cautiously when the road conditions aren’t perfect. Driving in snow and rain requires more care and slowing down. Drivers should also look out for ice or blizzard warnings, in which case it’s probably safer not to drive.
Mechanical Failure
Trucking companies must regularly inspect their vehicles to make sure they’re safe to drive. Failing to do so could mean putting a semi-trailer with faulty brakes, a bad engine, or a broken steering wheel on the road. There’s also a chance that the manufacturer of an auto part made a defective product that broke while the truck was being driven.
Road Debris
Objects or other forms of debris in the road are dangerous for anyone to drive over. A commercial big rig driver could either get in a wreck because they swerved to try and avoid debris or run over it, losing traction with the road.
