Driver Error Causes Indianapolis Truck Accidents
Our Lawyers Can Help in the Aftermath
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has found that commercial truck driver error is ten times more likely than other factor to be the cause of a truck accident, more so than mechanical problems and weather and road conditions. In fact, the FMSCA has found that truck driver action or inaction is responsible for a staggering 88 percent of truck crashes. Unfortunately, these accidents are very serious, often resulting in catastrophic injuries and death.
A number of driver errors can lead to serious truck accidents:
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs. Operating a commercial truck requires heightened awareness and adherence to the rules of the road. Federal regulations require that employers test their drivers for alcohol and drugs as a condition of their employment. Unfortunately, intoxicated truckers cause approximately 44 percent of truck accidents. Toxicology records and the police report from the accident are key pieces of evidence in these types of accidents.
Driver Fatigue. Driver fatigue is responsible for around 18 percent of commercial truck accidents. While there are strict regulations limiting the hours that a truck driver can legally operate a tractor-trailer, semi truck or other commercial truck, drivers are still generally paid by the mile or by the load, giving them incentive to drive longer than the specified maximum. Truck drivers often falsify their logbooks in an attempt to get around the law. If an attorney does not request the logbook right away, a carrier may attempt to destroy the log and all the valuable information that comes with it, including receipts and GPS records.
Distracted Driving Drivers talking on cell phones or texting are a major cause of accidents on Indiana highways. Federal rules bar truck and bus drivers from texting while driving, but this is hard to regulate. Distracted drivers may fail to check their blind spots and obey speed limits. They may also miss road signs, including height and weight restrictions. If a distracted driver cannot clear a bridge, he could cause serious structural damage in addition to threatening the lives of everyone on the road.
Driving Too Fast for Conditions. While driving too fast is a poor idea in any vehicle, it is especially dangerous in trucks because of the high risk of rollovers, a major cause of fatal truck accidents. Despite this danger, speeding truckers cause around 23 percent of truck accidents. While Federal regulations require that drivers slow down in adverse weather conditions, truck drivers are often on tight schedules and do not always follow the rules
Lack of Qualifications and Training. Sometimes untrained drivers who lack qualifications cause truck accidents. In these cases, we can look to pursue claims against the trucking company, as the law requires these companies to use drivers who pass an intensive application and screening process, including a rigorous driving test and physical assessments. Additionally, the law requires that the company supervise and monitor a driver’s performance once he is on the road. Thus, if a trucking company allows an impaired or incompetent driver to drive or fails to follow other federal regulations, they can be held responsible for a driver’s error.
Errors Leading to Brake Failure. Trucks and tractor-trailers have separate brake systems that must work together. However, drivers sometimes depower the truck brakes and rely on the trailer brakes, increasing the risk of jackknifing. The delicate tractor-trailer brake systems can also fail when they overheat due to an improperly distributed load.
Improper Trailer Attachment. If a tractor-trailer is not properly attached to a semi truck, it could detach or jackknife.
If you have suffered injuries as the result of a truck driver’s negligence, it is necessary to investigate both the driver’s conduct and the trucking company’s role in the accident. An Indianapolis truck accident attorney can review your case and advise you of your options. Do not delay; contact the Indianapolis truck accident lawyers at Doehrman Chamberlain as soon as possible to make sure the evidence is preserved and to give yourself the best chance of recovery. If your accident was the truck driver’s fault, we can fight for you to hold him accountable.
