Common Causes of Truck Accident Fatalities
When an automobile accident occurs, there is always a risk of serious injuries or death. Fatalities are especially common when a collision involves a commercial truck. These large, heavy vehicles can cause severe damage, and often result in catastrophic or fatal injuries.
The truck accident attorneys at the Quick Law Group, PLLC understand the unique dangers associated with these types of collisions. Our legal team has helped numerous clients in Bellevue, WA, and surrounding areas collect compensation for damages stemming from a wrongful death after losing a loved one to the most common causes of truck accident fatalities.
Speeding
Driver error is a leading cause of truck accidents. One of the most common errors made by truck drivers is speeding. Speeding makes it more difficult to control a vehicle and limits the amount of time a driver has to react to obstacles or other dangers, which makes a collision more likely.
Speeding is unique from other driving errors in that it also has a direct impact on the severity of an accident. The speed that a vehicle is traveling at the time of an accident affects the impact of the collision. Trucks already cause a significant impact because of their weight and size, but excessive speed can make the impact of a truck accident deadly.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving contributes to many fatal truck accidents in the Bellevue area. Truck drivers spend a lot of time on the road, so they may be tempted to make phone calls, send a text, or put on music to entertain themselves. Additionally, truck drivers often use GPS devices to navigate unfamiliar roads. Unfortunately, all of these practices draw attention away from driving and make an accident more likely. With the inherent risks of a truck accident, distracted driving can turn deadly.
Driver Impairment
Because of the significant risks of a truck accident, truck drivers are held to high safety standards. Truckers should never operate a commercial vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t drivers who break the law. Driver impairment is a common cause of fatal car accidents.
Fatigue is another form of driver impairment that is common among truck drivers. Although there are hours of service regulations in place that are intended to minimize the amount of time a commercial truck driver spends on the road without a break, violations do occur. Fatigue inhibits a person’s cognitive and motor functions and is a leading cause of truck accident fatalities.
Brake Malfunction
Vehicular malfunctions are another possible cause of truck accidents. A brake malfunction is among the most dangerous truck malfunctions. Without braking ability, a truck can slam into another vehicle and cause a deadly accident. Trucking companies should perform regular inspections of their vehicles and perform routine maintenance to avoid these types of accidents.
Contact Our Practice
If you have lost a loved one to a truck accident, you may be due financial compensation for your losses. To consider the possibility of a wrongful death lawsuit, call (425) 576-8150 and schedule a consultation with the attorneys at Quick Law Group, PLLC.
