Truck accidents are not exactly few and far between in Florida. Unfortunately, many of these end in serious injuries or death for those in passenger vehicles. There are roughly five common causes of 18-wheeler accidents. The first is driver error, which is usually on the part of passenger vehicle drivers. Drivers may, for example, use their phone, drive drowsy or travel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Second, many accidents occur because of poor vehicle maintenance. Sometimes, truckers are more neglectful of this than passenger vehicle owners since 18-wheelers are driven for thousands of miles a day and undergo that much more wear and tear. Truckers are supposed to inspect their rigs before every shift. The third cause is equipment failure caused by a defective part, which may be the fault of the parts manufacturer, installer or trucking company.
Many truckers are inexperienced when it comes to driving in bad weather, so they may wind up speeding on roads that are wet, icy or snowy. This is the fourth major cause of accidents. Oftentimes, truckers will brake too hard in these conditions and skid, jackknife or hydroplane.
The last cause is improperly loaded cargo. If the loaders did not follow industry-specific rules for this, they could contribute to a tip-over. Cargo may spill out, too, when it’s not secured.
When motor vehicle crashes involve a large truck, the results can be, if not fatal, at least catastrophic. Victims may incur brain or spine injuries that affect them for the rest of their life. If they were not to blame for the accident, then they are surely entitled to compensation. Seeking compensation is a difficult process, though, so victims may want a lawyer to speak with. They may want legal representation when the time comes to negotiate a settlement.