Top 6 Causes of Truck Accident in New York

by Marni F. Schlesinger on Nov. 17, 2021

Accident & Injury Accident & Injury  Car Accident Accident & Injury  Personal Injury 

Summary: Truck accidents often lead to severe injuries and even death. Here are six of the most common reasons they occur.

During a typical year, around 500,000 trucking accidents occur in the United States. That's a pretty sobering statistic. Let's discuss the most common causes of these accidents.

 

1. Hiring

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires trucking companies to hire truck drivers who meet medical, experience, and licensing requirements. Unfortunately, some trucking companies don't follow these guidelines. What this means is that there are more and more amateur truck drivers on our roads. Inexperienced truck drivers are more likely than experienced drivers to make critical decision errors that can lead to serious crashes.

 

 

2. Speeding

While trucks generally have speed limiters, some drivers tamper with them to increase their truck's speed.

 

Speeding not only increases the likelihood of a truck collision but the amount of damage that may be caused.

 

 

3. Malfunctions 

 

Malfunctions are another common cause of trucking accidents. Among the possible malfunctions are suspension failures, coupling failures, transmission failures, etc. Trucks, like any vehicle, need regular maintenance to keep them in top shape conditions. 

 

 

4. Driver Fatigue

 

Being a truck driver is a high-stress occupation. Drivers are expected to make one delivery after the other and meet tight deadlines. As you can imagine, this limits their time to rest and sleep, leading to drowsiness and fatigue. 

 

Drowsiness and fatigue can impair a trucker's decision-making, concentration, and reaction time, increasing the likelihood of getting in an accident. 

 

 

5. Driving Under Influence

 

Drinking alcohol or taking drugs before or while driving impairs certain functions required to drive safely, such as motor skills, vision, alertness, and reflexes. This, too, can lead to a tragic trucking accident on the road. 

 

 

6. Driving at Night

 

Driving at night is so commonplace among truckers it's easy to forget just how dangerous it is. Night blindness dramatically decreases the driver's ability to respond to obstacles or dangerous situations effectively. Combined with fatigue, night blindness can cause deadly accidents.

 

 

Speak With a Personal Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one have been injured in a trucking wreck, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. However, you should be aware that the insurance company is a profit-making organization and, therefore, will generally work hard to minimize or reject your claim.

 

For this reason, we highly recommend speaking with an experienced Bronx personal injury attorney. Your attorney can help you gather strong evidence and negotiate a fair settlement for your losses.

 

Call Apicella & Schlesinger!

The NYC truck accident lawyers at Apicella & Schlesinger Law Firm have helped thousands of auto accident victims get their rightful compensation and can help you too. Give us a call today for a free case review :: (212) 568-4245

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