Truck Accident Causes Part 1: Why Do Debris Crashes Happen?
Truck crashes caused by unsecured loads and debris are among the most horrific. You may hear about these cases on the evening news or on Facebook. Pieces of debris from loose loads or poorly maintained semi-trucks become airborne missiles that hit other vehicles – or worse – other motorists. There are several reasons these crashes occur, including improper maintenance, unsecured loads, and unsafe driving.
Improper maintenance: Mechanical parts can fall from semi-trucks when commercial carriers neglect maintenance. These large vehicles are composed of thousands of parts, many of which are made of solid metal or other hard materials. In recent years, motorists driving behind semi-trucks have been killed by tank caps, transmission parts, and drive shafts coming loose. Fatalities may have been avoided if commercial carriers had performed proper maintenance.
Improper load: Improper loads are another major cause of truck accidents involving debris. Truckers may fail to tie down loads properly. Other cases include trucks that are overloaded or improperly covered. There are many cases of rocks dislodged from trucks striking motorists' windshields. In worst-case scenarios, stones or other objects weighing many pounds (sometimes several thousand pounds) fall from trucks and fly into traffic lanes.
Unsafe driving: Speeding or taking sharp turns may cause loads to shift and hit other drivers. Unsafe driving may also knock poorly secured mechanical parts loose from trucks.
The risk of being struck by loads or other debris is a good reason to avoid driving directly behind semi-trucks. It is impossible to know which commercial carriers and truckers are not complying with regulations that prevent debris from coming loose. Drivers who are not struck by debris may swerve to avoid it, lose control, and hit other vehicles. They may also leave the road and collide with different objects.
Why Should You Consider Hiring an Attorney After a Debris Crash?
Attorneys can perform many tasks that you may be unable to, or that would impose significant difficulty following an accident. The most important role where an attorney can help is determining fault for the crash. Truck accident attorneys can acquire documents that may show the commercial carrier or driver who caused your injuries did not perform maintenance or violate other regulations. They are also familiar with the laws that regulate the trucking industry, such as maximum truck weight limits and other factors that may affect a driver's or commercial carrier’s liability. Regulations are supposed to prevent crashes caused by loose debris. The Texas truck accident attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC, will hold commercial carriers and truckers accountable for negligence.