Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Boston Truck Accident Causes (Part A)
Truck accidents cause countless personal injuries and numerous fatalities on America’s highways. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) estimates that more than 4,500 people die in truck accidents every year.
For the families of these victims, life will never be the same. When studying truck accidents, safety experts see several common causes in most truck accidents.
Driver Fatigue
Driving fatigue is a contributing factor in many truck accidents. The IIHS has found that truck drivers who drive for more than eight hours at a time have an increased risk of causing a truck accident.
Although there are currently no statistics showing exactly how many truck accidents are caused by driving fatigue, safety experts speculate that the number is quite high. Experts at FindLaw.com find that the compensation system for truck drivers, which is typically based on the number of miles driven, can cause some truck drivers to take dangerous risks.
Steering and Brake Malfunctions
Truck equipment malfunctions cause a startling number of accidents, especially for semi trucks and 18-wheelers. According to the IIHS, slightly more than 50% of tractor trailers involved in a truck accident had some sort of brake malfunction.
More than 20% of semi trucks involved in truck accidents had a steering malfunction. The danger of a brake malfunction is highlighted in a recent truck accident in California. The Boston-based driver of a semi truck lost his brakes on a hilly road and plowed into four vehicles. The truck accident killed a man and his 12-year-old daughter.
Poor Braking Capabilities
The brakes on semi trucks are notoriously inefficient, even when they are in good working order. It takes a large truck much longer to stop than the typical passenger car, especially on wet roads.
According to the IIHS, modern trucks built after 1995 must be equipped with anti-lock brakes, but there are still many older trucks on the road today. Trucks without anti-lock brakes can be susceptible to jackknifing.
If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, you should contact a Boston truck accident attorney to help determine who is liable for your personal injuries. It is important that the lawyer has handled these types of cases before and that the attorney has an experience winning fair settlements for truck accident victims.
Continue to Common Causes of Truck Accidents (Part B) >>
