Truck Driver Negligence
Truck drivers are held to a higher standard than passenger vehicle operators, as evidenced by the strict and extensive training they must undertake before receiving a CDL license. That said, truck drivers are human and can be guilty of negligence as often as any other drivers. However, a truck can cause much more damage than a passenger vehicle at comparable speeds, meaning that a low-speed accident that would be a fender-bender between two cars may be catastrophic for the passengers in a car that collides with an 18-wheeler.
Take a look at a few ways that truck drivers can be negligent, and contact Friedland & Associates today if you have been in an accident and believe it was a result of a negligent driver.
Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
Any vehicle operator puts everyone else on the road at danger when they make the irresponsible decision to operate a motor vehicle while intoxicated by drugs, alcohol, or both. The same goes for truck drivers. One major thing that complicates this issue is the sheer size of a commercial truck, 18-wheeler, or semi-truck. In addition, there may be a significant weight that the driver is towing, making the situation even more dangerous.
Fatigued Driving
When a driver is operating a motor vehicle while tired, they may be even more impaired than when driving intoxicated. Commercial truck drivers are limited to a certain amount of hours they are allowed to drive each week under their CDL license, but this does not address the fact that they may be driving tired from day to day, and may be tired for reasons other than driving.
Aggressive Driving
When a truck driver is driving aggressively, it can be very intimidating for the drivers around them. Aggressive drivers are intimidating even in passenger vehicles, but when the aggressive driver is in an 18-wheeler or semi-truck, the threat of serious harm and damage can escalate the situation significantly.
Texting While Driving
Using a phone while driving is dangerous for any drivers on the road, but it can create an especially dangerous situation when the driver is operating a massive vehicle that is many times larger than the passenger cars around them. Texting while driving distracts the driver, delays response times, and can cause the operator to unwittingly drift into another lane, causing serious problems with such a large vehicle. The FMCSA enacted a federal law in 2010 banning texting while driving for all commercial truck drivers.
Improper Cargo Loading
If a driver is operating a truck with an overloaded or improperly-packed trailer, this can cause the truck to handle unpredictably or make it less-responsive. This is extremely negligent, because commercial truck drivers are trained to transport large loads safely and responsibly, and knowingly doing otherwise is both careless and dangerous.
Contact An Attorney If You Have Been In a Truck Accident
If you have been injured in a truck accident and you believe that the truck driver had been acting negligently, contact the team at Friedland & Associates immediately to schedule an initial consultation. We will work with you to determine all of the necessary documentation you will need to gather in order to build your case and prove negligence, and handle interactions with the commercial insurance company while making negotiations for your settlement. If we are unable to reach a settlement that adequately compensates you for your accident and injuries, we will pursue a trial.
