18 Wheeler Accidents - The Devastating Truth

Each year, thousands of people suffer because of 18 wheeler accidents. Even for the people that survive, the future can be challenging due to costly medical care, numerous hospital visits, and permanent physical damage. The best way to deal with these tragedies is to prevent them in the first place. This article details the common causes of these accidents, provides an overview of what can be done to prevent these accidents, and gives advice about what to do if you or a loved one is affected by a semi truck accident.

Causes Of Semi Truck Accidents
With the numbers of 18 wheeler accidents increasing every year, people often assume they are due to a single cause. However, a variety of causes and factors can contribute to a vehicle mishap. The most common causes of these accidents include:
  • Drivers being fatigued from overwork or falling asleep at the wheel - a truck driver should only drive so many hours per day to avoid fatigue.
  • Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol - as with many general automobile accidents, DIUs often play a role in a semi truck accident.
  • Issues resulting from poor truck maintenance - accidents due to failing brakes, driving on unsafe tires, cargo not being secured, engine trouble, and mechanical failure.
  • Driver error - usually resulting from reckless driving, including road rage incidents.
  • Inexperience - inadequate training, including defensive training, or sending a driver out on the highways who doesn't have enough driving experience yet.
In addition to these accident causes, many drivers are faced with having to exceed the speed limit to meet unrealistic deadlines set by employers. The additional speed can cause a semi to lose control. Truckers also have to deal with ever expanding highway systems along with more cars and trucks being on the road that are not often conscious of the safety that should be practiced when driving alongside big rigs. The actions of another car can even cause you to be involved in a semi truck accident when a truck driver has not been adequately trained in defensive driving.

18 Wheeler Accidents Caused By Driver Negligence
One way is to curtail reckless semi drivers by pushing for tougher penalties and regulations for unsafe driving and falling asleep at the wheel. People can encourage the trucking industry to step up to avoid this kind of devastation by providing better driver training with an emphasis on safety and more effective ways for carrying cargo in an attempt to avoid the stress and devastation of 18 wheeler accidents [http://www.18wheeleraccident.org/].

When Involved In A Semi Truck Accident
People affected by these incidents deserve help and it is crucial that they get help from a knowledgeable and qualified attorney who specializes in 18 wheeler accidents. Especially when an accident results in death or permanent physical damage, it is important that victims consult an attorney for themselves and their future, but also to put further demands upon the trucking industry to make the roads safe for others.
Christine O'Kelly is an author for Jim Adler & Associates, lawyers specializing in helping semi truck accident [http://www.18wheeleraccident.org/] victims. They have protected the rights of those involved in 18 wheeler accidents for over a decade.
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