Crashes with semi-trucks or 18-wheelers can put people in the hospital or lead to premature death. Many times, the semi-trucks have minimal damage, while the smaller vehicles end up completely destroyed. The people in the passenger vehicles involved in such crashes are at extreme risk. Drivers who worry about safety can learn about the factors that might increase their risk of being involved in the worst types of wrecks.
What are the top causes of 18-wheeler crashes?
Mistakes by motorists
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) looks carefully into collisions involving commercial trucks. Less than half of those crashes are the fault of drivers operating smaller vehicles. Those drivers often make one of two main mistakes. They either drive in blind spots that put them at risk of preventable wrecks or they cut off semi trucks in traffic, leading to particularly devastating rear-end collisions.
Mistakes by commercial drivers
The FMCSA cites mistakes by commercial drivers as the most common reason that a commercial vehicle might be to blame for a wreck. Inappropriate driving decisions might include driving too fast, getting too close to smaller vehicles or leaving inadequate stopping distance when following another vehicle in traffic.
Recognition errors
Drivers have to constantly monitor the roads to watch for signs of danger and respond accordingly. The failure to monitor surroundings is the underlying cause of roughly 28% of the crashes where the bigger vehicle is at fault. In some cases, issues with visibility because of the vehicle size play a role. Other times, the commercial driver may become distracted by their personal mobile device, a dispatch device or even a meal eaten while on the road.
Driver non-performance
According to the FMCSA, approximately 12% of crashes caused by semi-trucks involve the driver becoming incapable of performing their job functions. Typically, that means they either fell asleep or had some kind of debilitating medical event while driving. Losing control of a semi-truck for even a few seconds could have tragic consequences.
Vehicle issues
Semi-trucks require specialized maintenance and service performed by certified professionals with specialty equipment. The cost of maintaining a fleet of commercial vehicles can be quite high, and commercial transportation companies sometimes put off making repairs longer than they should. There are also cases in which clients may fail to disclose moving or liquid contents in a trailer or where they load a trailer improperly. Issues with a semi-truck are the underlying cause of approximately one in 10 semi-truck collisions.
While drivers in passenger vehicles cannot necessarily control all of these factors, they can be more aware of their behavior when in close proximity to vehicles that could put them at risk. They may also recognize when common factors may have contributed to a semi-truck wreck, giving them cause to take legal action after a crash occurs. Seeking compensation after a semi-truck crash can potentially help people cover hospital bills and pay to replace a severely damaged vehicle.