Trucks can generate immense force and are responsible for some of the deadliest crashes on our roadways. The most common causes of truck accidents in Woodbridge may involve negligence on the part of the truck driver, the trucking company, or both. If your injuries have been caused by another person or entity’s negligence, the experienced truck accident attorneys at Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC, are well-positioned to help you.
What Constitutes Truck Driver Negligence?
As professional drivers, truckers face strict safety requirements at both the state and federal levels. Because truck drivers from Woodbridge Township are responsible for massive machines that can cause significant damage, they must adhere to strict hours-of-service regulations and enhanced impairment laws. Any negligence while driving an 80,000-pound rig can prove deadly, and the related losses are difficult to overstate.
Distracted Driving
Truck drivers have a serious job, and any form of distraction can trigger life-threatening accidents. While distraction can take many forms, texting is the most dangerous of all. When a trucker sends or reads a text at highway speeds, they travel about the length of a football field, which highlights the dangers of trucker distraction.
Excess Speed
Big rigs are much heavier than cars and require far longer stopping distances. Truckers exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast relative to the road conditions increase their stopping distances and the impact generated by any resulting accidents.
Impaired Driving
The law has no tolerance for impaired driving by truck drivers. Alcohol leads to less coordinated movements, a lack of clear thinking, and an inability to make well-considered decisions; yet each of these factors is crucial to navigating traffic safely when driving a tractor-trailer.
Fatigued Driving
The trucking industry is extremely fast-paced. Some truckers push the legal limits of hours-of-service regulations to continue earning a living, but then experience the dangerous effects of fatigue. Some trucking companies contribute to this risk factor by requiring their drivers to exceed safety boundaries in the name of profit.
Failure To Follow Traffic Regulations
Truck drivers experience a range of enhanced risk factors, including large blind spots around their rigs, longer stopping distances, and an increased vulnerability to rolling over. When truckers fail to obey driving laws, they significantly increase the likelihood of a terrifying accident.
Trucking Company Negligence
The trucking companies that hire drivers in Woodbridge have a serious responsibility for preventing truck accidents. They must adhere to the following actions:
- Hiring safe and experienced truck drivers with the correct licensure
- Maintaining a safe fleet of roadworthy rigs
- Implementing effective truck maintenance and safety requirements
- Ensuring safe loading
- Enforcing all hours-of-service regulations
Failure to adequately address any of these actions may be the direct cause of a life-threatening truck accident.
Pursuing a Truck Accident Claim
The physical, financial, and emotional losses caused by a truck crash in Woodbridge Township can be overwhelming, but obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled is too important to ignore. For the best outcome, you should consider working closely with a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer.
Contact an Experienced Woodbridge Truck Accident Lawyer Today
There are many common causes of truck accidents in Woodbridge, but your claim is unique to you. The dedicated attorneys at Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC, appreciate the severity of your circumstances and are dedicated to working on your behalf. Learn more about how we can help you by contacting us online or calling us today to arrange a free consultation.
