Gloucester Truck Accident Attorney

Truck driver and trucking company negligence is responsible for many accidents in which others sharing the road are seriously or fatally injured. Negligent actions that lead to crashes include:

• Fatigued driving: This unsafe driving conduct is a known contributing factor in serious or deadly commercial truck accidents. Truck drivers who are under economic pressure, with unrealistic delivery deadlines to meet may violate hours of service regulations. Fatigued driving increases the risk of serious driver errors and falling asleep at the wheel.
• Speeding: Truckers who speed may be under pressure from their employers to meet tight deadlines or simply want to shorten their long trips. Speeding is dangerous in any vehicle, and even more so in a huge, heavy truck that requires more stopping distance to avoid a crash. The faster the truck is traveling, the more distance is required.
• Improper maintenance: FMCSA regulations require trucking companies to inspect, maintain, and repair their vehicles and equipment on a regular basis. Companies may cut corners in these areas to save money or to avoid taking their rigs temporarily out of operation. Failure to properly maintain vehicles can lead to deadly collisions caused by equipment failure.
• Improper braking: To safely operate big rigs, truck drivers need a high level of skill, particularly when braking on a downhill grade. Trucking companies may hire inexperienced drivers who lack these skills. Improper braking can cause the truck to roll over or jackknife, blocking traffic and leading to multi-vehicle pileups. It can also cause the trailer to detach from the truck, resulting in runaway trailer accidents.
• Negligent lane changes: With huge blind spots around their trucks and trailers, drivers must exercise great care in switching lanes. Failure to do so can cause deadly collisions with other vehicles.