With record port activity, California roads have more big rigs on them. Drivers try to meet deadlines to transport goods across the state and country. However, there are more wrecks leading to personal injury claims. What causes them?
Cutting corners can lead to big rig accidents
When the trucker has a deadline to meet, it’s tempting to cut corners to make up for time lost in traffic jams. Examples include not following the rules of the road. Instead of coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, the trucker might decide to come to a “rolling” stop, which is little more than slowing down a little.
Speeding is another significant problem. Some truckers figure that driving at night makes it less dangerous to speed. However, with the increase in speed comes a longer time to brake. Not following traffic rules and speeding laws is poor judgment that easily leads to serious crashes and injuries.
Secondary reasons for truck accidents
Sometimes, a big rig crash has nothing to do with poor judgment. It could be a matter of experience. A new driver or someone new to a route may not understand the dangerous roads, turns, or situations. They might make mistakes that lead to truck accidents and personal injury.
Distracted driving is a problem that plagues all drivers; however, it has particularly serious consequences when it causes a truck to veer into oncoming traffic. Examples include cell phone use, eating while driving, and watching movies or clips rather than the road.
Of course, if you are now dealing with a personal injury because a big rig crashed into your vehicle, it may not matter a lot why the accident happened. It may be more beneficial to protect your rights by talking to a law firm.
