In 2011 the Texas Department of Transportation reported that 122,777 of the 416,870 reported crashes that year took place in dark conditions. Nighttime driving is different from daylight driving and drivers should take extra caution when driving around large trucks at night.
If you find yourself driving around large trucks at night, remember these three important driving safety tips:
- Use your lights and signals: Headlights improve the visibility of your surroundings and they also help truck drivers to see your vehicle better. Don’t forget to use your turn signals and fog lights when necessary.
- Keep a safe distance: Truck drivers have a much bigger vehicle to account for when making turns, changing lanes, and stopping. They need a lot more room to maneuver, so give it to them.
- Stay alert: Low light conditions decrease your ability to react to nearby hazards, making your reaction time slower. Avoid driving while tired or impaired and avoid distractions like cell phone use or eating while driving to improve your ability to react if a large truck makes a sudden movement.
Remember that any reckless driving behaviors during the day can be even more dangerous at night. While you may be a cautious driver, not all truck drivers give the same attention to the road as you might. Therefore, it’s best to keep a safe distance and drive defensively no matter what the light conditions.
Accidents involving truck tractor/semi-trailers resulted in 389 fatal crashes in Texas and thousands of injuries in 2012. In many cases, these accidents were avoidable if not for the negligent actions of the truck driver. There are many forms of negligent driving among truckers that can put other drivers and pedestrians in peril.
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 a free consultation with a personal injury attorney.
The record of duty status from the Department of Transportation (DOT) ordered logbook is important in a truck accident claim because it may help establish if the driver was negligent. For instance, it may establish whether the trucker violated the hours-of-service rules regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.