Top Ten Causes of Truck Accidents in Mansfield
Most motor vehicle accidents occur on highways and interstates in the State of Texas. As a result, the probability of a truck being involved in those crashes is quite high. All the top ten causes of truck accidents in Mansfield can lead to devastating injuries, some of which are fatal.
Truck accidents are different from regular motor vehicle accidents, as commercial vehicles are subject to federal regulations that govern the trucking industry. These accidents also may be more likely to result in catastrophic injuries due to the size and speed of these trucks on the highway. A skilled truck accident attorney in your community might be able to evaluate the circumstances that led to your injuries and determine whether you have valid legal claims against any parties involved.
Truck-Involved Crashes Statewide
In the most recent statistics released by the Texas Department of Transportation (TDOT), over 37,500 crashes involving commercial motor vehicles occurred in 2018 across Texas. These crashes resulted in thousands of injuries and hundreds of fatalities. Although the TDOT reports many different causes of accidents, one of the most common causes of these crashes is drivers who ignore or fail to follow traffic regulations.
Thousands of drivers involved in motor vehicle crashes committed common traffic violations, such as:
- Changing lanes when unsafe to do so
- Failing to control their speed or traveling at unsafe speeds
- Traveling outside their lanes of traffic
- Failing to yield to traffic properly
Although traffic violations are not the only reason for accidents, they are among the top ten causes of Mansfield truck accidents. When drivers fail to follow traffic rules and regulations, they put other drivers and passengers at risk of severe injuries. These injury victims may be entitled to compensation from the parties responsible for the accidents that led to their injuries.
Other Common Reasons Behind Truck Collisions
Various scenarios can result in truck crashes, just as they can for different motor vehicle accidents. Many of these situations involve errors or misconduct by drivers of commercial trucks, including:
- Driving while distracted due to using cell phones or other electronic devices
- Driving while excessively fatigued
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
In many cases, drivers violate the law when they engage in these behaviors while driving. For instance, although truck drivers are subject to federal regulations requiring them to limit their driving hours and ensure that they take adequate rest periods, drivers do not always observe these limits. If trucking companies push their drivers to make faster trips or look the other way when drivers keep incorrect driver logs, trucking companies also may share liability for the misdeeds of their drivers.
Accidents Unique to Commercial Trucks
Some other causes of accidents are unique to trucks. These reasons include a lack of adequate training and supervision of drivers by trucking companies and failure to inspect and maintain commercial trucks properly. Other truck accidents in Mansfield and their top ten causes may result from improperly loaded cargo, which can cause a truck to be off-balance and more prone to overturning or operational errors.
The trucking industry is subject to many federal and state regulations designed to keep drivers and others traveling on American roadways safe. All too often, however, trucking companies skirt these regulations or allow their drivers to violate them freely. When rules violations lead to accidents, both drivers and their employers can face significant financial responsibility for injury victims.
Mansfield Truck Accidents and Their Top Ten Causes
The top ten causes of truck accidents in Mansfield may vary, but they all have the potential to cause catastrophic injuries that can be life-altering for injury victims. Violation of traffic laws and federal regulations can lead to negligent driving behaviors that end in disaster. Truck drivers and the trucking companies who employ them can be the object of personal injury claims when other drivers and passengers are injured in truck crashes.
Negligence forms the basis for most personal injury claims arising from truck accidents. Whether truck drivers are operating while impaired, violating hours of service rules, or speeding, they can be held accountable for their actions through these claims. Call today to learn how a truck accident attorney could help your case.