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A Look at the Causes Behind Tractor Trailer Accidents in Mississippi: Part II

Each year, over 500,000 trucking accidents occur in the U.S. and roughly 5,000 of these accidents result in at least one fatality. Though crashes involving commercial trucks occur less frequently than that between motor vehicles, the chance of serious injury is much higher when a truck is involved. In Part I of this two part series, we examined three of the most common causes of trucking accidents: 1) driver fatigue; 2) distracted driving; and 3) drug use.  This final segment addresses the remaining common causes of tractor trailer accidents.

  1. Speeding – exceeding the recommended speed limit is dangerous in any vehicle, but can be deadly when you are driving an 80,000 pound tractor trailer.  Commercial truckers often speed in order to make tight deadlines and increase profits.  Further, after so many hours on the road, many become overconfident and reckless, leading to negligent speeding.  A study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found speed to be a contributing factor in over 23% of the 967 crashes studied.  Trucking companies actually have a way to control their driver’s speed through speed governors. However, they can be costly to purchase and install.  Given the expense, many trucking companies fail to utilize them.  A reputable truck accident attorney can determine the speed at which the driver was traveling at the time of the accident using the “black box” inside the truck.
  2. Failure to check blind spots—though tractor trailer drivers are trained to check blind spots and carefully check all sides before making turns or switching lanes, many fail to do so.  Over 15% of all trucking accidents are caused by the driver failing to adequately check his or her blind spot.  Examining the scene and reconstructing the accident can help your attorney determine whether the truck driver’s negligence in maneuvering caused your accident.
  3. Exceeding hours of service requirements – all truck drivers must adhere to guidelines set out by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.  These rules dictate how long a driver can be on the road and how much rest he or she must maintain.  Drivers are required to keep a log of their hours.  Due to workplace and financial pressures, drivers often exceed the Safety Administration’s mandatory maximum hours.  This can lead to driver fatigue, distraction, and drug use.  An experienced truck accident attorney will subpoena the truck driver’s log and verify its contents using bills of lading, gas receipts, and trip tickets.
  4. Poor maintenance – particularly in this still rebounding economy, trucking companies have been forced to make budget cuts, often resulting in less than adequate maintenance of their trucking fleets.  The failure to maintain brake pads, check and replace tires, examine axels, supports, and hitches, among other things, can lead to serious accidents.  A truck accident attorney can examine the trucking company’s maintenance logs, which are mandated by state and federal law, to determine whether a lack of proper maintenance contributed to or caused the accident.
  5. Road rage – not only a problem among car drivers, aggressive driving causes nearly 10% of all trucking accidents.  Reasons for road rage can vary from fatigue to agitation at traffic congestion and the inability to speed.  Aggressive driving frequently causes poor driving decisions and erratic behavior.  Witness statements and examination of the accident can help an attorney assess whether road rage was a factor in the accident.
  6. Poor road conditions – heavy rain, snow, ice, and less than ideal road conditions can all play a factor in a tractor trailer accident.  These vehicles are often carrying massive loads, making it more difficult to stop or maneuver through poor road conditions.  Your truck accident attorney can look to weather reports and road conditions in determining the driver’s potential negligence.

The truck accident experts at Barrett Law PLLC have fought for the recovery of accident victims since 1936.  With an unmatched reputation for legal excellence and zealous advocacy, Barrett Law PLLC will guide your case to success.  Call us today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free initial consultation.

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A Look at the Causes Behind Tractor Trailer Accidents in Mississippi: Part I

A glance at the local news reveals that tractor trailer and other commercial truck accidents in Mississippi are all too common and often deadly.  A few months ago, in Tupelo, a young mother and her two year old daughter lost their lives in an 18-wheeler accident turned tragedy.  The young mother, Olida Acosta, had been parked in a car with her daughter outside of a local business.  The pair was waiting for a family member inside.  Suddenly, a massive 18-wheeler, with no driver at the wheel, pummeled the car.  The vehicle containing Acosta and her daughter was pushed into the commercial building, along with the truck.  It took emergency crew workers over an hour to lift the large truck off of the car, and Acosta and her daughter were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.  Investigators later determined the cause of the accident—the truck driver had exited the vehicle but forgot to put the parking brake on, allowing it to roll into Acosta’s vehicle.

Just weeks ago, a three vehicle accident involving an 18-wheeler led to the deaths of two individuals and injury of another in Desoto.  The vehicles were driving southbound on Highway 45.  Investigations revealed that a 18-wheeler rear-ended the truck in front of it.  The truck then hit the car in front of it.  The vehicles than slid all the way down the quarter mile bridge until the truck caught fire.  It was the fire that killed the two passengers in the pickup truck, and injured the driver of the car.  The driver of the 18-wheeler was uninjured.

As these local news stories illustrate, tractor trailer accidents can be deadly and occur at alarming rates.  Below is Part I of our list of the causes behind tractor trailer accidents in Mississippi.  This list is intended to help you stay safe by anticipating common causes for accidents, and also to aid in your understanding of the problem so if you ever become an accident victim, your chances of recovery are better.

  1. Fatigue—due to heavy workloads and long hours on the road, commercial truck drivers experience fatigue at shocking rates.  Driving an 80,000 pound tractor trailer while tired is a recipe for disaster, as studies show tired driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving.  A licensed truck accident attorney can help you to determine whether the driver who hit you was fatigued.
  2. Distracted driving—driver distraction is a huge problem for all drivers, but is exceptionally dangerous when enormous trucks are involved. Glancing down for even a second while driving these mammoth vehicles can lead to a deadly accident. Further, because truck drivers are on the road so often, they are more likely to engage in distracting activities, such as: eating, drinking, talking on the phone, texting, emailing, and shaving or other grooming. A skilled Mississippi truck accident attorney can subpoena phone records to determine whether the trucker was using his or her phone near the time of the accident.  Through witness interviews and scene investigation, your attorney will also investigate whether any other sort of distraction played a role in the accident.
  3. Drug use—a recent study examining the cause of truck accidents found that in 26% of crashes, use of either prescription or illegal drugs affected the driver’s reaction time. Drug use among truckers is notoriously high, and it is imperative that your attorney investigate the possibility drugs played a role in the accident.

The attorneys at Barrett Law, PLLC have helped the innocent victims of commercial truck accidents obtain a full and complete recovery for decades.  At Barrett Law, PLLC, we have the dedication, knowledge, and skill to lead our clients to success.  Call us today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule a free consultation.

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