By Truck Accident Attorney on October 25, 2011 -
Truck accidents often cause more damage and injuries than passenger car accidents because of their large size and weight. In some cases, accidents are due to driver behavior and mistakes. In others, driver work environment plays is a main Arizona truck accident cause. These are some of the most common ways in which driver work environment affects driving behavior.
Scheduling Issues
Trucking companies often have to compete on price or delivery time in order to secure new business. Unfortunately, this means drivers have to work grueling shifts in order to deliver products on time. Driving long distances without enough time for naps and breaks increases the risk that a driver will fall asleep at the wheel and cause an accident. Drivers who make local deliveries often work early in the morning or late at night, which are prime times for developing fatigue.
Physical Demands
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, driving a truck is very physically demanding. In addition to driving duties, drivers also load and unload large shipments of cargo. If a driver is distracted by pain or discomfort, he or she could lose focus on the road and crash.
Ethical Issues
The United States has strict laws in place to help prevent truck accidents. Truck drivers must have at least 10 hours off between work shifts and cannot work more than 60 hours in one week unless they have at least 34 straight hours of time off. However, some trucking companies force their drivers to break the law in order to make on-time deliveries. Drivers are also faced with the decision of skipping breaks or naps in order to stay on schedule.
Work environment plays a big role in causing major truck accidents. If you or a loved one suffered injuries as the result of a crash caused by a truck driver, you deserve justice. The Glendale truck accident attorneys at The Breyer Law Offices P.C. have a track record of success when it comes to fighting for our clients. Call us at (602) 457-6222 to schedule a free review of your case.
By Truck Accident Attorney on October 13, 2011 -
Many of the things you buy, from clothing to cars, enters your state on a truck made to carry cargo. This means cargo carriers are using the same roadways you are, putting you at risk for a serious accident should you encounter a negligent cargo truck driver or a truck that was not loaded properly. Watch out for these top causes of Mesa big rig accidents involving cargo trucks to keep your family safe.
Improper Load
Cargo truck drivers need to load their cargo carefully, as driving on winding or hilly roads at high speeds can cause cargo to shift en route to its destination. If a driver does not load his truck properly, the cargo could shift off balance and cause a crash.
Improper Fastening
Truck drivers need to fasten their cargo properly to prevent it from coming off of the truck during transit. If cargo is not secured properly, it could fall into the path of oncoming drivers and cause them to crash or veer off the road.
Improper Maintenance
Just like other trucks, cargo trucks need regular maintenance and repair to keep them safe enough for use on the road. When trucking companies fail to maintain their vehicles properly, they put other drivers at risk. Improper maintenance could lead to brake failure or cause problems with truck safety systems. If tires are not replaced as needed, the treads could fall into the path of other motorists.
When truck drivers fail to take needed safety precautions, they are putting others at risk of property damage, serious injuries, and even death. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in an accident with a cargo truck, contact the Mesa truck accident attorneys at The Breyer Law Offices P.C. We will work hard to recover the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses and lost income. Call us at (602) 457-6222 for a free consultation.
By Truck Accident Attorney on September 19, 2011 -
Truck drivers have a big responsibility when it comes to driving their vehicles without injuring others. The size and weight of a commercial truck makes it extremely likely that a truck accident will cause a fatality or life-threatening injury. Some drivers make all the right moves when it comes to driving safely and preventing accidents, but others take big risks that can endanger pedestrians, motorcyclists, bike riders and other drivers. Here are some common truck crash causes in Arizona.
Lack of Familiarity with Roadways
When trucking companies assign their drivers unfamiliar routes, the risk of an accident increases. Someone used to driving fairly flat surfaces may struggle to climb a mountain or come down a steep incline safely. Someone who is not used to curvy routes might have a hard time staying safe on winding paths.
Prescription Drugs
Even though pain killers, muscle relaxers and other prescription drugs are legal, truckers should not be using these drugs before or during work hours. These prescriptions cause drowsiness and reduce reaction time, increasing the risk of an accident.
Fatigue
Truck drivers are prone to fatigue, especially those forced to work overtime to meet the demanding schedules of their employers. Driving through uninteresting landscape for hours on end also increases the risk that a truck driver will fall asleep at the wheel.
Speeding
Trucks do not handle as well as smaller vehicles. They take longer to turn and do not take sharp curves very well. As a result, speeding is one of the leading causes of truck accidents.
When a truck driver falls asleep at the wheel, speeds or engages in other types of unsafe behavior, your life is at risk. If you are the victim of a crash caused by a truck driver, contact the Tucson tractor trailer accident attorneys at The Breyer Law Offices P.C. immediately. We will fight for your rights and work hard throughout your case. Call us at (602) 457-6222 for a free consultation.
There are a number of rules and regulations set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to help reduce the chances of truck accidents. Drivers are limited as to the number of hours they can work in order to prevent drowsy driving or fatigued driving. Another important federal regulation involves the weight of the load commercial trucks can carry and the manner in which such loads are distributed. Many states have specific weight restrictions and some states even adjust their restrictions depending on the time of the year.
This is an important law, but one which truckers and trucking companies often try to bend or break. Overloading a trailer can be extremely dangerous. It could cause trucks to go out of control and jackknife on the highway. Or it could lead to brake failure, which could in turn cause the truck to go out of control and cause an Arizona truck crash. Overloaded trailers may also cause a tire to blow or a suspension system to become compromised. Both truck drivers and trucking companies are required to make sure that trailers are not overloaded and that the load is evenly distributed.
Trucking companies that overload trailers or truck drivers who do not pay attention to properly loading their trailers can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. Victims of truck accidents caused by overloaded trailers would be well-advised to consult an experienced Arizona truck accident lawyer, who will better explain their legal rights and options.
The knowledgeable Phoenix overloaded truck accident lawyers at The Breyer Law Offices P.C. work with investigators to prove liability for serious injury accidents. Our skilled truck accident attorneys provide free consultations at 602-978-6400 to anyone who has been injured or has lost a loved one in a truck accident.
By Truck Accident Attorney on April 21, 2011 -
A recent large truck crash shows how a number of Arizona truck accidents are caused by speeding, reckless or inattentive truck driers. According to The Journal Star, a semi-truck crashed the morning of April 18, 2011 on Route 40. The semi-truck veered out of control and overturned on the highway spilling its dry goods and fuel. The driver, who suffered minor injuries, was the only one hurt in the truck accident. Officials say the crash occurred because the truck driver was going too fast for the conditions and therefore, lost control of the big rig.
It is indeed fortunate that no other passenger vehicles were around this truck. It is extremely important that truck drivers stick to the speed limit or drive at a safe speed given traffic and weather conditions. Under Arizona Statute 28-701: “A person shall not drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances, conditions and actual and potential hazards then existing.”
Victims of Arizona truck accidents often suffer serious injuries or death. Arizona truck accident victims have the right to hold dangerous truck drivers accountable for their actions by filing a personal injury claim. Speeding, fatigued, drunk and distracted truck drivers and their employers may be held civilly liable for losses and damages including medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages.
Anyone injured in an Arizona truck accident would be well advised to immediately seek medical attention and the assistance of a skilled personal injury attorney. The skilled Chandler truck accident attorneys at The Breyer Law Offices P.C. help injured victims get the compensation they rightfully deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Arizona, please contact us at 602-978-6400 to discuss your legal rights and options.
By Truck Accident Attorney on March 17, 2010 -
Trucking accidents are not like regular car accident cases. Those people who are Arizona specialists in personal injury and wrongful death litigation who have handled very serious injury cases have very often handled a large number of trucking accident cases. When a car is not well maintained, it causes a risk to everybody else on the roadway. However, when a big rig truck is not well maintained, the likelihood of a severe personal injury or the death of an innocent person on the roadways is far more likely and it is unacceptable.
Big rigs need to be well maintained. When the brakes are not well maintained, when the truck is not well maintained, when the equipment on the big rig is not kept in a safe condition, it puts others on the road in jeopardy.
It is not enough to assume after a serious injury or wrongful death trucking case that the cause was simple driver negligence. Instead, after a full reconstruction of the accident, it may be important to consider whether or not the failure to properly maintain that truck over time caused the accident. Moreover, if a trucking company purposely saved money to avoid keeping spending money to keep its truck well maintained – at the risk of serious injury to others – punitive damages may be considered under Arizona law.
If you or anybody you know has questions about big rig cases and the accidents that are caused, please feel free to contact the skilled Phoenix big rig accident attorneys at Breyer Law Offices, P.C. We will be happy to answer the questions that you may have.
