When truck accidents happen, everyone is quick to blame the driver. Although, to be fair, they do have a track record of being culprits. But this isn’t enough to completely overrule the possibility of any other party contributing to the accident.

One culprit you may not expect is the trucking company itself. The owners of the trucks can also share some liability in truck accidents because they play a part in increasing the risk of crashes on the roads.

In this article, we’ll be discussing the not-so-obvious ways trucking companies can contribute to accidents, putting not only truck drivers but also everyday motorists at risk.

Unrealistic Deadlines and Driver Fatigue

Some trucking companies might care more about making money than safety. They might set deadlines that are impossible to meet or even offer rewards for drivers who finish early. The pressure causes drivers to extend their driving time beyond safe limits.

Experts say fatigue is a big reason for crashes, maybe in 1 out of 4 or 5 of them. Drivers are often sitting behind the wheel for several hours, even when they are feeling sleepy and bored.

Even the best drivers can get tired, which makes it harder to react quickly and think clearly. This can lead to accidents.

Inadequate Maintenance and Risky Practices

Trucks are just like any other machine. They need constant care to run safely. Worn-out brakes, tires with bad treads, or broken lights can all cause accidents.

But some trucking companies try to save money by skipping regular maintenance, like taking the car in for an oil change. They are putting every road user at risk by doing this.

On top of that, some companies might try to cut corners in other ways to save time or money. This could mean packing the truck with way more stuff than it can safely handle, making it harder to stop.

They might also pressure drivers to skip breaks they need to stay alert, or even drive in bad weather. All of this makes accidents way more likely.

Hiring Incompetent drivers

Driving a giant truck on a busy highway is no joke. You need a skilled driver who can handle the pressure and make good decisions. Because they want to fill their open driver spots as fast as possible, these companies don’t always check carefully who they’re hiring.

This means they might not look into a driver’s past driving record to see if they’ve gotten in a lot of accidents, or they might not do drug tests to make sure they’re safe to drive.

Holding Trucking Companies Accountable

Truck accidents can be awful, leaving people injured or even causing deaths. As trucks are big and heavy, crashes with them can be much worse than regular car accidents.

If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident where the trucking company seems to be at fault, the law might be on your side. Here’s what you need to know:

• Personal injury lawsuit: If you got hurt in the accident because of something the truck driver did (and the negligence was because of the trucking company), you can sue them. This lawsuit could help you pay for lost wages, medical bills, lost wages, and the pain and suffering you went through.

• Wrongful death lawsuit: If someone you loved died in the accident, your family might be able to sue the trucking company. This is called a “wrongful death” lawsuit.

Wrapping Up

Truck accidents can have life-threatening consequences. The weight and size of these vehicles can lead to catastrophic injuries and fatalities for those involved in a collision.

If you’ve been impacted by a truck accident caused by a trucking company’s negligence, you have legal options to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.