Commercial truck crashes can destroy lives in seconds. When an 80,000-pound truck collides with your car, the results are often severe injuries, permanent disabilities, or death. If you or someone you love was hurt in a truck accident, understanding what caused the crash can help you determine who to hold responsible. Determining liability is key to getting the compensation you deserve.
Most truck accidents don’t just happen by chance. They result from specific, preventable causes that trucking companies and drivers have a legal duty to address. From driver fatigue to mechanical failures, these crashes often involve negligence that makes the trucking company liable for your damages. Knowing these causes helps you build a stronger case and hold the right parties accountable.
The Montana truck accident lawyers at Doubek, Pyfer & Storrar, PLLP know how tough these cases can be. Our personal injury law firm works tirelessly to hold negligent truck drivers and trucking companies accountable for their negligence, so you can get paid fairly for your injuries.
Driver Fatigue: The Silent Killer on Our Roads
Truck driver fatigue causes more crashes than most people realize. FMCSA federal law requires drivers to rest after driving for 11 hours. However, many drivers and companies disregard these rules to meet tight delivery schedules.
Tired truck drivers have slower reaction times, make poor decisions, and can even fall asleep behind the wheel. A driver who hasn’t slept properly is as dangerous as a drunk driver. When fatigue causes your accident, you may have a strong case against both the driver and their employer.
Signs that fatigue may have caused your crash include:
- The accident happened during typical sleep hours (midnight to 6 AM or 2 PM to 4 PM)
- The truck drifted out of its lane before impact
- There were no skid marks, suggesting the driver didn’t brake
- The crash happened on a straight, clear stretch of road
Distracted Driving: When Drivers Take Their Eyes Off the Road
Truck drivers face constant distractions. They use cell phones, eat meals, adjust GPS devices, and sometimes even watch videos while driving. Any activity that takes their attention from the road puts everyone at risk.
Commercial drivers are held to higher standards than regular motorists. They’re prohibited from texting while driving and have strict limits on phone use. When a distracted truck driver hits you, their violation of these safety rules strengthens your legal case significantly.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving
Trucks need much more time and distance to stop than cars. A loaded truck traveling 65 mph needs about 525 feet to come to a complete stop. When drivers speed or follow too closely, they can’t react in time to avoid crashes.
Some trucking companies pressure drivers to make unrealistic delivery schedules, encouraging dangerous speeding. This corporate pressure doesn’t excuse the dangerous driving, but it does make the company liable for your injuries.
Impaired Driving: Alcohol, Drugs, and Medications
Truck drivers sometimes drive under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription medications that impair their ability to drive safely. Commercial drivers face stricter blood alcohol limits than regular drivers, and any detectable amount of illegal drugs violates federal regulations.
Beyond illegal substances, some drivers abuse stimulants to stay awake during long hauls, or they take medications that cause drowsiness. These substances significantly increase crash risk and provide strong evidence of negligence in your case.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance and Mechanical Failures
Trucking companies must regularly inspect and maintain their vehicles. When they cut corners on maintenance to save money, critical systems can fail without warning. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering problems can cause devastating crashes.
Common mechanical failures that cause truck crashes:
- Brake system failures or poorly maintained brakes
- Tire blowouts from worn or underinflated tires
- Steering system problems
- Trailer coupling failures that cause trailers to detach
- Faulty lighting systems that make trucks invisible to other drivers
Federal regulations require detailed maintenance records. When companies fail to maintain their trucks properly, these records become powerful evidence in your case.
Improper Loading and Cargo Issues
How cargo is loaded affects how safely a truck handles on the road. Overloaded trucks are more difficult to control and require longer stopping distances. Improperly secured cargo can shift during transport, causing the driver to lose control.
Sometimes cargo falls from trucks, creating road hazards that cause accidents. The company responsible for loading the truck, which may be different from the trucking company, can be held liable for crashes caused by loading errors.
Weather and Road Conditions
While bad weather affects all drivers, truck drivers have a professional duty to adjust their driving for dangerous conditions. They should slow down in rain, snow, or fog, and sometimes they must stop driving entirely when conditions become too dangerous.
When a truck driver fails to adjust for weather conditions and causes a crash, they can be held liable even though the weather was a factor. Professional drivers are expected to handle challenging conditions safely.
Inadequate Training and Hiring Practices
Some trucking companies hire drivers without proper background checks or adequate training. Drivers with poor safety records, DUI convictions, or insufficient experience pose serious dangers to everyone on the road.
Companies that cut corners on hiring and training can be held liable when their unqualified drivers cause crashes. Your attorney can investigate the driver’s background and training records to build your case.
Contact Our Montana Truck Accident Lawyers
Understanding what caused your truck accident is essential for holding the right parties accountable. Truck crashes often involve multiple liable parties, including the driver, trucking company, maintenance providers, and cargo loaders.
An experienced truck accident attorney at Doubek, Pyfer & Storrar, PLLP will investigate your crash thoroughly, examining driver logs, maintenance records, company policies, and other evidence. This investigation identifies all sources of compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Call Doubek, Pyfer & Storrar, PLLP today at 406.442.7830 or fill out our confidential contact form to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
