Accidents involving commercial vehicles can be quite serious. These accidents can often result in severe injury and in some unfortunate cases fatalities. Damage caused by commercial vehicles is significantly greater than those of regular sized vehicles. The size and volume of trucking vehicles magnifies damage caused by at least tenfold. For this reason, trucking vehicles should always be properly maintained and drivers should remain alert on the roads. One minor error can be the cause of an 18-wheeler flipping over on the road and colliding with other vehicles. A common cause of truck accidents can be attributed to negligent behavior. This type of behavior can be identified in both the drivers driving behavior as well as lack of proper maintenance on the part of the trucking company.
There are many types of negligent truck maintenance
Driving with broken, cracked, or foggy reflectors is extremely risky. Truckers drive all hours of the day, when night falls it can be very difficult to see ahead with cloudy reflectors or lights. When a truck is exposed to the elements debris can get trapped into lights. Condensation from water, dirt from dusty roads, and insects can all make their way into the lights or reflectors. When completing maintenance trucking companies should always inspect lights and be sure that they are properly functioning.
Imagine driving an 18-wheeler down a narrow road, suddenly a compact car cuts in front of you. You spot the car in front of you at the very last minute and stomp on the brakes. However, your brakes are worn and you are unable to stop in time. When driving a commercial vehicle it can be extremely difficult to spot smaller vehicles hidden in your blind spots. Because of this reaction time to brake may be longer than drivers in regular sized vehicles. Brake pads can be worn down through continuous use. Failure to maintain them may result in an 18 car pile up.
When maintaining tires there are a number of things to consider
Truck companies should be diligent about tire maintenance. Tire should always be inflated. They should be rotated and aligned as often as is necessary. Tread should always be monitored closely. Truckers should also practice good driving behavior to extend the lifetime of tires. Speeding can overheat tires and cause wear. Driving on rough surfaces can wear down tire tread. Rounding sharpers too quickly can also damage tires.
When driving a commercial vehicle carrying goods, mirrors are very important. The size of these vehicles can make it difficult to spot smaller vehicles on the road. Driving with damaged or missing mirrors is risky. Switching lanes, avoiding other vehicles, and turning are simple tasks we complete when driving. These tasks become hard when we do not have a clear field of vision.
If you have been involved in a trucking accident, feel free to contact us at Colley and Colley.
15511 W Highway 71
Suite 110-142
Austin, TX 78738
(512) 477-2001
512-477-3335
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