All along Arizona’s roadways, vehicle collisions are commonplace. Whether they occur on a highway, dusty backroads or city streets, vehicles of all shapes and sizes can collide resulting in significant property damage and devastating injuries. When these accidents involve trucks, however, the results tend to be magnified.
Due to their size and speed, large commercial vehicles – 18-wheelers, delivery trucks, construction vehicles, etc. – are likely to demolish smaller vehicles in a collision. Here are some factors that might lead to a truck crash.
- Poor driving ability: Whether this can be tracked to inadequate training or simply being a bad driver, a truck driver must be well-versed in driving technique, safety concerns and tactics to avoid causing an accident.
- Monetized safety: While there are numerous regulations in place to ensure that truck drivers get the rest necessary to ensure a safe trip, many trucking companies have hung tightly to a system of compensation that rewards faster vehicle speeds and longer driving hours.
- Unrealistic expectations: Closely tied to the previous point, many trucking companies hold drivers accountable for challenging schedules and unrealistic expectations that can unofficially force a driver to ignore many safety risks. Drivers attempting to keep up with an unrealistic schedule can result in fatigued driving or the use of drugs or other stimulants to stay alert for long periods of time.
Drivers of smaller vehicles can suffer traumatic brain injuries, back injuries, amputation, paralysis and burn injuries. It is crucial to act quickly to protect your financial future and the well-being of your entire family.
This isn’t to say that all accidents are caused by the truck drivers, but a collision must be carefully examined to determine liability and the factors that led to the crash. An experienced personal injury attorney can provide the guidance you need.