Big trucks fill the streets around and in Piscataway, delivering goods that keep stores running. However, those big trucks may pose a challenge that can increase accident risks. Truck accidents can occur in the blink of an eye, often for reasons that the drivers of other vehicles cannot predict ahead of time. Did you suffer injuries due to one of these common causes of truck accidents in Piscataway? Working with a dedicated truck accident attorney could help you assess the likely cause of the accident and file a claim against the liable party that can cover some of your financial losses, including your medical costs, any income losses, and your pain and suffering.
Distracted Driving
Truck drivers spend a lot of hours out on the road every day, which means they may get comfortable doing a variety of things behind the wheel. Eating and drinking while driving, changing stations on the radio, or even using a GPS device can all pose a distraction that may prevent the truck driver from keeping up with what goes on around them, leading to a devastating accident.
Driver Fatigue
Under federal trucking regulations, truck drivers can only spend 11 hours out of a 14-hour shift behind the wheel before they must spend at least 10 consecutive hours away from the wheel of the vehicle. Unfortunately, those 11 hours can prove more than adequate to create a high level of driver fatigue, which can increase the risk of accidents. Fatigued drivers may suffer from decreased focus and concentration or even the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel.
Blind Spot Accidents
Trucks have large blind spots on all four sides of the vehicle. Those blind spots can make other vehicles invisible. While truck drivers work to minimize those risks, including using mirrors and cameras or keeping track of the flow of other vehicles around them, blind spot collisions remain one of the most common causes of truck accidents in Piscataway.
Jackknife Accidents
A jackknife accident occurs when the trailer swings free of the truck, pulling it out of the truck driver’s control. Jackknife accidents occur for a number of reasons, but often, they result from either a heavy, overloaded trailer or driver error. Steering sharply, speeding, or taking corners at the last minute can all raise the risk of a jackknife accident.
Speeding
Speeding remains one of the top common causes of truck accidents in Piscataway. Truck drivers often have to make their deliveries on tight schedules, which means that if they fall behind, they need to speed in order to make up time. In addition, truck drivers may get paid by the mile, so they may hurry to try to get the job done. Unfortunately, big trucks take much longer to slow down or stop than passenger vehicles, so speeding can significantly raise the risk of an accident.
Falling Cargo Accidents
Drivers must carefully secure the cargo on big trucks, especially flatbed trailers. Drivers also bear responsibility for checking those straps and connections whenever they stop. Falling cargo can pose a serious danger to everyone around
Contact a Piscataway Truck Accident Lawyer to Discuss the Cause of Your Accident
Whether your accident occurred because of these common causes of truck accidents in Piscataway or you suffered injuries for another, less-common reason, working with a lawyer can prove essential to recovering the compensation you deserve.
Reach out to Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC, today to discuss your right to compensation during a free consultation.
