How Is Negligence Established in a Truck Accident?

Though every situation is unique, there are common causes of truck accidents that occur. Some of the most common forms of negligent truck accidents include:

• Drowsy driving – According to the National Safety Council, driving while drowsy is similar to the effects of driving while under the influence. The more tired a driver gets, their reaction times, awareness of hazards, and the ability to keep their eyes on the road becomes worse. Alarmingly, the National Sleep Foundation’s 2024 Drowsy Driving Survey found that 50% of Americans are likely to still drive, knowing that they have not had enough sleep.
• Mechanical defects – In its Large Truck Crash Causation Study, the FMCSA had found that brake and tire problems were among the top contributing factors for large trucks involved in trucking accidents.
• Lack of maintenance on the semi-truck – Trucks see a lot more wear and tear than an average passenger vehicle. If the owner or trucking company fails to keep up the maintenance on the vehicle, it puts drivers’ lives at risk.
• Speeding – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that 11,775 people had died in speeding accidents in 2023.
• Inexperienced drivers – It is the responsibility of the trucking company to make sure its drivers are properly trained. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. A Virginia Tech study found that inexperienced drivers had higher crash rates and were more likely to be involved in a crash.
• Driving under the influence – Every day, approximately 32 people in the U.S. die in a drunk driving case. Drunk driving and driving under the influence of drugs is one of the top causes of truck accidents. The NHTSA also reports that about 30% of all traffic crash fatalities are drunk driver-related.  
• Poor road conditions – Each year, thousands of trucking accidents are caused by poor road maintenance or bad weather conditions.
• Failure to assess hazards – Whether the truck driver is distracted, fatigued, or under the influence, their reaction times will be affected. This will result in the ability to react quickly to a hazard on the roadway.

While these are the common causes, the catalyst may differ, leading to the accident, and causing injury. This is why investigators will work diligently to determine all possible variables that contribute to the truck accident and prove negligence.