Commercial vehicle accidents can be very dangerous and even deadly. For this reason, you need to protect yourself as much as you can by being as careful as possible. It also helps to know what can cause these accidents.
Here are some of the top causes of accidents involving large commercial vehicles.
Vehicle malfunction. Just like other vehicles, things happen that may make them unsafe. Brakes can give out, tires can blow out, and many other things can go wrong (and quickly). The best way to avoid this is by always looking over your truck and trailer before any trip. You should never skip this step or you may be looking for trouble.
Driver stress. Drivers can be stressed and lose their concentration easily. They may be struggling with things at home. They may be trying to hurry home for any number of reasons. They may be running behind due to traffic and feeling the pressure from the carrier to get their load delivered. All of these things can make drivers less careful when they are behind the wheel.
Fatigue (and boredom). Driving for hours, spending days and weeks on the road can lead to driver boredom and fatigue. To combat this, it is a good idea to take frequent breaks to keep your body and mind fresh. Even just pulling over and stretching your muscles (or walking around your truck) can make a big difference in your driving.
Drugs and alcohol. You should never get behind the wheel (any wheel) if you have touched any amount of alcohol or drugs. These substances can negatively affect your reaction and your reaction time.
Other drivers. Other drivers can also cause problems when it comes to commercial vehicles. They may be impatient with slower commercial drivers, trying to get around them. They may ride too close or even cut them off because they are in a hurry. They may not realize how long it takes to slow down a fully loaded commercial truck so it is important to keep an eye on the surrounding drivers at all times.
Driving a commercial vehicle is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly because one accident can be very dangerous. For this reason, drivers need to check over their truck before every trip. They also need to find a way to deal with the fatigue and boredom that sometimes come with long trips, along with dealing with any stress that they may be having.
Don’t hesitate to contact us for all of your commercial truck insurance needs. We offer insurance for commercial trucks in Florida, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska.
