When you drive, one of the things that likely worries you is how many large trucks you have to be around. On more than one occasion, you’ve seen a driver go off the road or swerve into someone else’s lane. You’ve seen drivers speed and become aggressive as well.

As a safe driver, you can report these incidents to the authorities. In the meantime, take a look at some of the primary causes of serious crashes involving 18-wheelers. On the whole, the three primary factors in motor vehicle crashes include:

  • Driver fatigue
  • Alcohol
  • Speeding

These three factors are among those most likely to increase the risk of a serious crash.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 4,564 people lost their lives in crashes involving large trucks or buses in 2015. Large trucks and buses also account for around 12% of all traffic fatalities.

It’s interesting to note that speeding played a role in approximately 17% of crashes with at least one fatality. Around 61% of crashes happened in rural areas, and 27% involved large trucks in work zones. Distractions and cellphone use were believed to play a role in some of these collisions.

Large truck crashes may not always be preventable, but making sure drivers have enough time to sleep, are trained in how to drive safely without speeding and are not drinking alcohol is a good start. Drivers should also be warned not to use cellphones while driving and to avoid distractions when possible.

If you are injured because a driver is not being safe or has not taken steps to prevent a collision, you may want to pursue a legal claim. An experienced attorney can help you.

Posted in Car Accidents