Accidents involving trucks are common in Ohio, which is alarming since truck accidents can cause severe injuries. Different factors contribute to these accidents.
Here are four of them:
Poor training
The trucking industry has struggled with driver shortages for years. To solve this, some trucking companies hire less experienced drivers to meet demand. And some fail to train their drivers frequently, increasing the chances of accidents occuring.
A truck driver, whether a beginner or an experienced one, should be trained on driving, driving in harsh weather conditions, safety (road signs, rules and regulations and hours of service regulations), and vehicle maintenance.
Driver negligence
A trucking company may hire a skilled driver and offer needed training, but a driver may act negligently, causing an accident. These include being distracted by something inside or outside the vehicle, violating traffic laws, driving while drunk, falling asleep behind the wheel and making poor decisions.
Mechanical issues
Some truck accidents occur due to equipment failure, such as brake failure, tire blowout, transmission failure, lighting issues and so on. These issues can be caused by poor vehicle maintenance or manufacturing/designing defects.
Trucking companies and drivers are required to perform pre-trip inspections and regular inspections and maintenance to keep trucks in good condition. When failing to do so, a company may be responsible for an accident. If a manufacturing or designing mechanical issue causes an accident, the manufacturer or designer may be accountable.
Company priorities
Some trucking companies prioritize meeting client’s deadlines even if that means compromising safety. They will set tight deadlines, forcing drivers to violate traffic laws to meet them. These companies also have unrealistic schedules that can lead to driver fatigue.
If you are involved in a truck accident, you should learn more about its cause to determine the liable party.
