Top 10 Causes Of Tractor Trailer Accidents

  • Post category:March 2013

Top 10 Causes of Tractor Trailer Accidents

Accident statistics show that tractor trailer accidents occur less often than other types of motor vehicle accidents.

Ohio-Tractor-Trailer-Accidents-Wright-Schulte-LLC

Though 18-wheeler accidents are fewer in number, they prove to be far more dangerous than motor vehicle accidents, all too often causing serious injuries and death. A large Truck Causation Study conducted by the The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation, found the top 10 of the 19 most common causes for tractor trailer accidents are:

  • Issues with brakes
  • Congestion or other type of traffic flow interruptions
  • Prescription drug use
  • Driving too fast
  • Being unfamiliar with the road
  • Roadway issues
  • Required stops, (stoplights, crosswalks)
  • Over-the-counter medication use
  • Inadequate surveillance
  • Fatigue

Though when compared mile to mile to motor vehicle accidents tractor-trailer accidents occur less frequently, they are far more dangerous. In fact, 18-wheeler accidents are more likely to injure or kill the people in the other vehicle, not the tractor trailer driver.

The FMCSA also found four critical reasons for semi truck driver’s being faulted in a tractor trailer crash. These reasons include:

  • The driver suffered a heart attack, seizure, or other physical or disabling impairment, or the driver fell asleep behind the wheel
  • The driver was distracted by something, or was inattentive or failed to observe a situation correctly
  • The driver made poor decisions, such as driving too fast or too closely, or misjudged the flow of traffic
  • The driver performed poorly by overcompensating, panicking, or failed to control the direction of the tractor trailer

Nearly one-half of the 963 tractor trailer accidents involved in the study were collisions between an 18-wheeler and a passenger vehicle. FMCSA study found that the same four critical factors in semi-truck driver faulted accidents were also the major factors in tractor-trailer and passenger vehicle accidents.

Unfortunately, 15 of the 19 factors analyzed in tractor trailer crashes are driver factors. The FMCSA writes that these crash-related driver factors can be divided into two groups; the condition of the driver prior to the accidents, and driver mistakes.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a tractor trailer accidents, you know first-hand how devastating these types of accidents can be. If you are questioning whether to file a lawsuit against a trucking company because of a serious or fatal tractor trailer accident, we urge you to speak with the knowledgeable tractor trailer accident attorneys at Wright &a Schulte LLC.

About Wright & Schulte LLC

As an experienced Ohio auto accident and personal injury law firm, Wright & Schulte LLC handles cases on behalf of injured clients in the areas of bus/truck/automobile accidents, personal injury, product liability, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and nursing home abuse. The attorneys and staff at Wright & Schulte LLC are committed to upholding the standards of excellence set by its founding partner in representing all of their clients. For over 40 years, Wright & Schulte LLC’s team of highly experienced Ohio lawyers have continually fought for justice for all of its Ohio clients. If you have been injured in an Ohio bus/car/truck accident, call the experienced accident lawyers at Ohio’s full-service law firm Wright & Schulte LLC today at 937-222-7477.

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