Truck Accident Safety Factors

The trucking industry in America is a necessity. Goods must be moved across the nation. The trucking industry does not want their vehicles involved in crashes, and motorists want the trucking industry to reduce accidents as much as possible. Truck accidents are more common than all of us would like. Therefore, the trucking industry is regulated throughout the nation. There will always be a need for balance between the safety of motorists and the need for the trucking industry to move goods and make a profit.

What are some of the factors that must be regulated because they are primary causes of truck accidents?

Rest

One is a lack of rest. As we all know, if we go without sleep for too long, we cannot be sharp in our driving abilities. Right now, truckers can drive up to 11 hours without rest. This regulation is now under review.

Size

Two is the size of trucks. Bigger trucks are involved in more accidents, relatively speaking. Both overweight trucks and double-trailer trucks are involved in more crashes proportionally to the their numbers on the road. These vehicles must be carefully monitored and their use on the roadways carefully controlled.

Side Guards

Three may be no side guards. The trucking industry opposes side guards because of the cost factor. Yet, side crashes are deadly. Cars can ride under a truck from the side and the results are very damaging to the car under riding. Rear crash barriers generally prevent this from the rear but no such guards are used on the side.

Maintenance

Fourth is maintenance. Believe it or not about 76% of trucks causing an accident are not properly maintained. As any car owner knows, a poorly maintained vehicle is a dangerous vehicle. A poorly maintained truck simply multiplies the risk to other, smaller vehicles on the road.

Regulations

Fifth is simply not following the law and regulations. It is an unfortunate rule of nature that some people and some firms will skirt the law for the sake of cost or expediency. The rules exist for a reason, and the reason is safety. Truck drivers want to drive the most miles they can in the shortest possible time, so they will sometimes violate speed limits, rest regulations, maintenance rules and logging their time on the road.

The bottom line is that the rules exist for a reason, and most of those reasons involve safety. It is unfortunate that some people will break the rules for simple expediency.

If you are involved in a truck accident in Louisiana, contact The Young Firm to determine your legal position.
 
The Young Firm in New Orleans understands the serious nature of automobile and truck accidents and the injuries that can result. Our firm will investigate the causes of any accident and pursue appropriate legal action.

Call a Louisiana car and truck accident attorney today at (866) 660-7220 for a free and confidential consultation if you have been involved in a car accident or an accident with a truck.