According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in 2009, there were 7,636 accidents involving commercial trucks in California alone. 2,712 of these crashes resulted in injuries and 262 resulted in fatalities.
Truck driver negligence is a huge concern for anyone sharing the road with these large vehicles. It takes a lot of focus to safely navigate and control these oversized trucks, and even a moment of inattention can have serious consequences. Truck driver negligence may result in a severe 18 wheeler accident which could cause catastrophic injuries; permanent injuries with long-term consequences. Even normally responsible truck drivers may get tired or have a momentary lapse, and some truckers have a history of irresponsible driving but are still allowed to drive.
How Truck Driver Negligence Contributes to Accidents
Truck driver negligence could be a gross offense, or a tiny momentary lapse; either are equally capable of causing an accident. These are a few of the most common forms of traffic offenses that constitute truck driver negligence, and lead to accidents:
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Truck traveling in the wrong lane;
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Running a red light;
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Changing lanes without signaling;
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Backing up in a traffic lane;
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Driving too fast;
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Tailgating, leading to a rear-end collision.
Truck driver negligence can also be more severe. Other types of negligence may not be directly related to traffic offenses, but can cause inattention or a lack of focus that can change lives instantly. These types of truck driver negligence include:
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Drunk driving;
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Driving under the influence of drugs;
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Falling asleep while driving;
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Fatigued driving.
Trucking Companies Ignore Warning Signs
In some truck driver negligence cases, the trucking companies get warning signs but choose to ignore them in the interest of business. Many truck drivers who are involved in accidents have at least one speeding ticket on their record, and drug and alcohol use are also common in the industry. Trucking companies are required to screen applicants, but regular ongoing screenings may be lax or may not happen at all. In these cases, the trucking companies may share liability for the truck driver negligence, because they could have helped prevent accidents but failed to get these drivers off the road.