Truck Accident Attorney: 5 Commercial Driver Mistakes

Commercial vehicle drivers have a great responsibility when they are on the job, but there's a reason why there's such a profession as a truck accident attorney. Commercial drivers work under great stress and must perform very monotonous work over several hour stretches. The result can be loss of focus, fatigue, distraction, and poorly made decisions. Here are five main causes of a collision between commercial and passenger vehicles.

1. Drugs
It is well known that drivers of commercial vehicles experience periods of fatigue due to the stressful demands of the job. However, a greater contributor to collisions is attributed to the use of prescription drugs. Many people require daily doses of medication, if not several different types. But even low dose and properly taken prescriptions can cause drowsiness, blurred vision, and other side effects that can decrease driving ability. Drug abuse is another common cause of collisions. Many drivers use substances to increase their wakeful hours, regardless of how it depresses their reflexes and decision-making abilities.

There are several federal regulations in place that help control the problem through limiting driving hours. Checking hourly logs can help a truck accident attorney determine if the driver broke any regulations.

2. Speeding
If you ever see an 18-wheeler careening wildly on the highway, get out of the way. When a commercial vehicle driver loses control and collides with a passenger vehicle, the destruction is devastating and there is a greatly increased rate of fatalities. The faster a driver is going, the greater the impact and the more damage sustained. Drivers will often speed to make up time, meet a deadline, or possibly due to the use of substances. A truck accident attorney will gather information from police, who can in turn determine the mph driven upon impact.

3. Distraction
All drivers have experienced momentary lapses of focus while on the road. However, it only takes a split second to smash into another vehicle. While passenger car drivers have to deal with ringing phones, fiddling with the radio, and idle chitchat, a commercial driver has even more potential distractions. They must keep logs, check their radios for information, consult with the GPS, and keep on a tight schedule. It is no wonder that they sometimes drift or lose sight of the road after their eighth consecutive hour of riding on the highway.

4. Unsafe
Although distraction could be considered driving unsafely, this category includes a host of other issues that can cause collisions. Failing to perform standard vehicle operating measures such as using turn signals and checking all mirrors before changing lanes will often result in tragedy. While many other drivers neglect these simple tasks, it is far more dangerous when a person with so many blind spots attempts the risk.

5. Fatigue
While not the most common cause of collisions, driver fatigue is still a component of many incidents. Even if they carefully follow all standard regulations, some drivers simply can't keep their eyes open for long enough to make sound decisions and keep their reflexes sharp.