Trucks regularly travel across the roads in Connecticut. While most drive uneventfully, some end up in accidents. Various factors can lead to these situations; these are some of the main causes of truck accidents.
Distracted driving
Truck drivers are just as likely to become distracted as any other driver. Among the most common ways that this can happen is when they eat behind the wheel or glance at their cellphones. Even a few seconds of distracted driving can lead to devastating trucking accidents and catastrophic injuries to anyone who’s in the immediate area.
Fatigued driving
Truckers typically work long hours and face pressure from their companies to go the extra mile. As a result, they can easily become fatigued while driving. Even if a truck driver doesn’t actually fall asleep, they can lose control of their steering and veer into another lane, a guardrail or even off the road altogether.
Reckless driving
Reckless driving is dangerous and puts everyone on the road at risk of a severe accident. When a truck driver engages in behaviors such as speeding, tailgating, failing to signal and disregarding the rules of the road and traffic signals, it’s especially deadly. The driver might not be able to effectively react in time to prevent disaster especially if speeding is involved.
Insufficient truck maintenance
Trucks must be properly maintained so that they’re safe for traveling and sharing the roads with other vehicles. If precautions aren’t taken to ensure the truck is up to safety standards, brakes can fail, or a tire can blow out.
Improper cargo loading
Cargo must be properly loaded or it could come loose, causing debris to scatter. Overweight cargo can also cause too much pressure on the truck and result in a rollover accident, which can be deadly.
Many truck accidents are preventable, but when they happen, victims can be left dealing with the aftermath for the long term.