Semi-trucks are a vital part of commerce in Minnesota and across the nation. Many companies rely on semi-trucks to transport their goods for sale. Therefore, they may encourage drivers to complete as many deliveries as possible as quickly as possible. However, this does not absolve a semi-truck driver of their duty to drive with due care. The failure to do so could lead to a truck accident resulting in injuries or fatalities.
There are numerous causes of truck accidents. The first boils down to driver error. Truckers are human, and, thus, make mistakes. For this reason, they must complete special training and they must obtain a special license to operate their vehicles. Studies of motor vehicle accidents involving trucks indicate that 22 percent of truck accidents are due to an error made by the truck driver. Truck drivers must drive with due care to avoid causing a collision.
Semi-trucks see a lot of wear and tear. Therefore, it is important that they are properly maintained. Truckers and the companies they work for are responsible for ensuring their vehicles are in good working order and are safe to drive. Truckers have a duty to inspect their vehicles before hitting the road and submitting periodic maintenance reports. A poorly maintained semi-truck could ultimately lead to a crash.
Improper cargo loading could also lead to a truck accident. There are industry-specific rules with regard to how commercial vehicles should be loaded. This includes limitations on the weight, size and dimensions of the cargo. There are also specific methods of how cargo should be secured to the truck. If a load spills while the trucker is on the road, it could cause a serious collision.
These are only some ways a trucker could cause a motor vehicle accident. Unfortunately, when a standard automobile is struck by a semi-truck, the laws of physics are not on the automobile’s side. A semi-truck is so much larger and heavier than a standard automobile that crashes involving one could cause the occupants of the standard automobile to suffer serious injuries or even death. When this happens, the victims of the truck crash or their survivors may want to determine what their legal options are, including the possibility of pursuing a personal injury lawsuit.