Getting into a wreck with a large commercial truck is frustrating at best and catastrophic at worst. These massive vehicles are capable of causing a massive amount of damage. Due to the inherent dangers, there are strict safety regulations to reduce accidents.
Unfortunately, crashes still occur and may have debilitating consequences. If a truck hits your vehicle, you will want to try and prove negligence so you can get compensation. Here are some violations drivers and companies commit that may make them liable for your injuries.
Poor hiring or training practices
Trucking employers have a duty to ensure their drivers are safe and competent. Sadly, this is not always the case. Some employers negligently hire bad drivers. For example, a trucking company may hire a driver without conducting a thorough background check and thus miss the fact that he or she has multiple drunk driving charges. A company may also provide inadequate training to its drivers, which can lead to accidents.
Hours of service violations
Among the top reasons for tractor-trailer accidents is truck operator fatigue. Drivers must follow the rules regarding how long they can work without rest. The trucking companies are responsible for enforcing these rules. If a trucker drives too long without getting proper sleep, he or she may be drowsy and cause a collision.
Inadequate maintenance
Big rigs are complex vehicles that need a lot of maintenance and repairs. If a truck driver or company does not keep a vehicle maintained, it may malfunction and result in a crash. Common parts of a truck that may be worn out or defective include the following:
- The braking system
- Tires
- The steering mechanism
- Lights and reflective tape
- The suspension system
One small thing going wrong may result in a deadly accident.
These are just a few ways that a driver or employer may be negligent and cause truck accidents. There are many other possibilities depending on the details of your accident.
