The Mistakes that cause Truck Accidents on Long Island

Many trucking accidents are caused by errors on the driver’s part. These usually happen when driver’s senses or mental faculties are impaired to some extent. If you were involved and injured in a collision with a big rig, seek help from a Long Island personal injury attorney immediately. They would know how to identify a truck drivers’ error and help you pursue compensation for any injury or damage you might have suffered. Here are some of the most common truck driver errors that lead to road accidents.

Driving Under the Influence

This problem is common enough in regular accidents involving cars but it could cause even more damage if a truck driver is intoxicated. Alcohol and prescription drugs can both impede a driver’s abilities, responses, judgement and reflexes, leading to mistakes on the road. Drivers who are under the influence of these substances are prone to dozing off behind the wheel. In fact a study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or the FMCSA has found that truckers who were taking prescription and over-the-counter drugs were the cause of at least 44 percent of trucking accidents.

Going Over the Speed Limit

Another huge factor of trucker error is driving over the speed limit. This accounts for 23 percent of accidents involving large trucks. Truckers who drive too fast often fail to react on time when faced with imminent danger, causing rollovers, which could affect other vehicles around them.

Fatigue and Sleep Deprivation

Fatigue and sleep deprivation also cause driver impairment. The FMCSA has strict rules about the hours of service a driver may render in a day or week, and specifies minimum numbers of rest periods in between. Out of 14 maximum work hours per day, truckers are only allowed to drive for 11. When a driver violates these rules, the probability of an accident is increased.

Legal Action Against Truckers

You can file a trucking accident lawsuit with the help of capable Long Island injury lawyers from established firms like The Law Offices of Joseph of Joseph Lichtenstein. A lawyer can help you collect evidence and records that would establish the truck driver’s actions as the cause of the accident. If successful, you can recover from your losses caused by the accident like lost wages, medical expenses, lost potential future income and disability.

Sources:

Trucking Accidents Caused by Driver Error, www.NOLO.com

How Truck Driver Impairment Can Cause Accidents, www.HG.org