What safety violations most commonly cause 18-wheeler accidents?

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18-wheeler truck

If you operate a large rig, you are probably familiar with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The FMCSA is a government agency that regulates the trucking industry. The FMCSA enforces trucking safety regulations through its Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) program. They implement strict safety regulations for those that operate large trucks to prevent and reduce crashes. Unfortunately, truck drivers who violate federal safety regulations, increase the likelihood of being involved in serious accidents. Please continue to follow along to learn what safety violations most commonly cause 18-wheeler accidents and how a skilled St. Mary’s County Truck Accident Lawyer can help you. 

What CSA safety violations most commonly lead to 18-wheeler accidents?

As mentioned above, CSA safety regulations were implemented to prevent serious accidents and injuries. According to research, the following are the most common truck safety violations that often cause 18-wheeler accidents:

  • Speeding
  • Improper lane changes
  • Tailgating
  • Reckless driving
  • Distracted driving
  • Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Failure to yield the right of way
  • Improper turns
  • Railroad grade crossing violations
  • Failure to obey a traffic control device

The above-listed are some of the most common safety violations that often result in serious truck accidents. Truck drivers must exercise reasonable care when operating a large rig to ensure everyone on the road’s safety, including their own. Moreover, accidents involving trucks are often caused by negligence. To prevent 18-wheeler accidents, truck drivers need to comply with CSA safety regulations.

Why are truck accidents so dangerous?

Furthermore, victims of 18-wheeler truck accidents rarely walk away unscathed. Victims often suffer catastrophic and life-altering injuries that negatively affect all aspects of their lives. Truck accidents are particularly dangerous because of the size, weight, and density of a large rig. Often, the force alone from a large rig striking a smaller vehicle is deadly. Larger rigs need more time to stop than standard vehicles. When a truck driver is speeding and the car in front of them suddenly stops, they may collide with the vehicle because they did not have sufficient time to stop. Truck drivers must comply with CSA safety regulations as they were implemented to reduce the number of truck accidents that occur on the road. In addition to CSA safety regulations, truck drivers are required to rest after driving for several consecutive hours. Those that operate 18-wheelers are more susceptible to driver fatigue which is another leading cause of accidents. Truck drivers should never violate any CSA safety violations to prevent serious accidents and injuries.

In the unfortunate event that you or a loved one has been injured in an 18-wheeler truck accident, please don’t hesitate to speak with one of our determined and experienced team members. Our qualified lawyers can help you understand your legal options. Our firm is committed to helping our clients seek monetary compensation for their damages.