Factors that Can Contribute to or Cause a Serious or Fatal Truck Accident

A truck crash can occur for any number of reasons owing to mechanical failure, human error, or natural events, such as inclement weather. Negligence often is a factor in some common types of fatal truck accidents. In these cases, a liable party may be held responsible in an injury claim or lawsuit.

Some of the most common factors that can contribute to or cause a fatal truck accident include:

• Driver negligence or error (such as traveling at a high rate of speed, changing lanes without checking for other vehicles, operating while fatigued, or turning left in front of an oncoming vehicle);
• Operating while under the influence of drugs or alcohol (a truck driver who operates while intoxicated is more likely to cause a fatal truck accident);
• Distracted driving (such as when a truck driver texts, reads, eats, smokes, or otherwise engages in distracting behaviors while driving);
• Mechanical failure caused by manufacturer error or insufficient maintenance (faulty brake lines, steering malfunctions, lack of underride/override protection, and so on);
• Trucking company negligence (hiring poorly trained drivers, demanding truck drivers work beyond the legally allotted hours, and so on); and
• Poor road conditions (this may include snow, ice, rain, fog, poorly marked roadways, and other hazards: poorly trained drivers or defective vehicles may be unable to react to such conditions and increase the risk of a fatal crash.)

A post-accident investigation may uncover these or other contributing factors. In many cases, there may be more than one cause. In some cases, there may be more than one liable party.

If you have been seriously injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident in Dallas, call 214-290-8001 or use our online contact form to schedule free consultation with a personal injury attorney.