The only thing worse than being involved in an automobile accident is being involved in an accident with some type of large commercial truck. Commercial trucks can often weigh up to 40 tons and can be 80 feet in length. According to the Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), deaths in 2010 due to accidents involving large trucks topped 3,000. Of those 3,000+ accidents, approximately 72% of those, or around 2,450 of the deaths, were passenger vehicle occupants.
Some of the common causes of large-truck accidents are:
- Blind Spots: Blind spots can be deadly in any vehicle, but they are especially problematic for large commercial trucks. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) report, 14% of large truck accidents were due to inadequate checking of the blind spot.
- Overloaded Trucks: The Stopping distances for large commercial trucks are already longer than that of passenger vehicles. Excessive amounts of weight due to over packing only add to the problem and can make braking even more difficult for the truck driver.
- Carelessness: Driving a large commercial truck can sometimes bring with it a sense of entitlement or power. This can lead to careless or reckless acts by the driver, such as a driver failing to yield.
- Sleep Deprivation: Many commercial truck drivers can experience fatigue while traveling since they often skip sleep or are forced to push themselves in an effort to get extra miles in.
- Poor Maintenance: Having improper maintenance, such as the failure to check brakes or tires, can be a recipe for a disaster.
- Speeding: Having tight deadlines can push truck drivers to exceed the speed limits. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) report, 23% of large truck accidents are linked to speeding.
Other common causes for commercial truck accidents include road rage and drug use by truck drivers. In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration report shows that approximately 26% of large truck accidents were caused by poor reaction times due to the influence of prescription or of illicit drugs.