Commercial truck accidents occur all the time. A semi trucks size and weight alone produce inherent dangers to other drivers. However, there are a number of other causes of commercial truck accidents that add to this danger.
In order to operate a semi truck, drivers must have a commercial driver’s license or CDL. In order to receive a CDL, drivers must attend training, receive instruction and meet various other requirements. By doing so, it is the hope of the commercial carrier that their drivers operate in a skilled and safe manner. Unfortunately, inadequate training is known to be one of the major causes of commercial truck accidents. Semi truck operators can be a danger to themselves and others on the road when inadequate or poor training has led to the development of unsafe and defensive driving techniques.
Commercial truck drivers must adhere to certain rules of the road and operation. They can only drive a certain number of hours every day and should not be pushed to the point of fatigue or exhaustion. Unfortunately, this has been known to happen. Some commercial carriers have been known to compensate their drivers based on the speed at which they complete their route or delivery. These systems of compensation actually encourage faster driving speeds and longer driving hours which may lead to dangerous driver fatigue.
When operating a large and very heavy semi truck, drivers are encouraged to follow all safety precautions and safe driving techniques. Unfortunately, some commercial carriers have unrealistic expectations of their drivers and their schedules. When a semi truck driver is rushed, they are more likely to make driving errors and use poor judgment. These issues can lead to extremely serious commercial vehicle accidents.
Semi truck accidents are not always the fault of the commercial truck driver. Many times, passenger vehicles actually cause accidents that affect commercial trucks. However, commercial carriers are expected to train their drivers adequately and enforce safe driving techniques. When these companies do not protect the public by ensuring they have safe drivers, catastrophic accidents happen. For victims of these accidents, it may be extremely beneficial to speak to a personal injury attorney.
