In San Diego, there are approximately 5,000 truck accidents per year and nearly 250 fatalities. This city is well known for traffic congestion and truck accidents. Truck accidents are common in San Diego because of the busy roads.
There are several different causes of trucking accidents. Suppose you or your loved ones were involved in a truck accident. Then you should prove what caused it. As we all know, proving the causes of trucking accidents is a challenging task, so it is essential to hire truck accident attorneys in San Diego.
Why Truck Accidents Happen
When it comes to truck accidents, below are the six major reasons:
- Speeding
- Fatigue
- Distracted Driving
- Driving under the influence
- Dangerous road conditions
- Truck equipment failure
Speeding
Every trucking company and client want the goods to be shipped faster, and it is one of the major reasons that trucking industries usually pressure the drivers to ship the goods on time. Most truck drivers drive at high speeds to reach their destination quickly.
Driving at high speeds reduces the truck’s reaction times and makes it prone to accidents.
Fatigue
The major issue the truck industry faces is fatigue. Generally, truck drivers work long hours all weekdays, and due to this, they cannot get enough sleep. This may result in a truck accident.
Most truck drivers and trucking companies ignore strict driving regulations and guidelines due to tight deadlines. It is important to know how much a trucker should drive in a single shift.
A truck driver without proper rest and sleep will lose coordination, has slower reaction times, and falls asleep at the wheel. All these things contribute to a truck accident.
The federal regulations that every truck driver should follow are:
- After 10 hours off, the trucker can drive for more than 11 hours.
- Before starting the weekly work schedule, truck drivers should take a mandatory 34-hour break.
- Truck drivers can take a 30-minute active break after 8 hours of work.
- Should not drive up to 60 hours in a week or more than 70 hours in 8 days.
- In a workday, truck drivers should never exceed 14 hours of driving.
Distracted Driving
Truck drivers drive plenty of hours every day. It would cause boredom. In order to get away from boredom, most truckers keep themselves entertained by listening to music, eating, and texting while driving on busy roads.
Anyhow, when truck drivers get distracted and forget to pay attention to important road signs and traffic, it can contribute to horrible accidents.
Driving Under the Influence
Driving under the influence is a well-known cause of truck and other accidents. The consumption of alcohol will impair thinking, overall brain function, and muscle coordination.
If the trucker drives after drinking alcohol, it can impact their driving capability, so they cannot drive steadily. It causes tragic truck accidents.
Dangerous Roads
Hazardous intersections and roadways are also general reasons for trucking accidents. In San Diego, truck accidents occur frequently at the below places,
- Freeway 67
- University and Marlborough Avenue
- University Avenue and 52nd Street
- Interstate 5
- Interstate 15 (the 5-mile stretch between Miramar Way and Scripps Poway Parkway)
Truck Equipment Failure
Due to hectic schedules, most truck drivers fail to check the tires and other parts of the truck before driving. Includes:
- Improper maintenance of hitches or brakes
- Defective tires
- Malfunctioning steering systems
- Suspension issues
- Transmission faults
Above are the major reasons for truck accidents.
If you want to control truck accidents, then it is important to perform proper maintenance and regular inspections of trucks. Knowing all the major causes, you should follow the guidelines to control truck collisions. If you unexpectedly get into a truck accident, you should consult a truck accident attorney in order to get fair compensation.
