What Causes Truck Accidents
Truck accidents rarely happen without a cause the law recognizes. Explore the most common causes below to understand how each one affects liability and compensation.
Weather-Related Crashes
Federal regulation 49 CFR §392.14 requires commercial drivers to use extreme caution in hazardous conditions a…
Blind Spot (No-Zone) Errors
Large trucks have blind spots — 'no-zones' — extending up to 20 feet in front, 30 feet behind, one lane on the…
Brake Failure
Brake violations are the most common vehicle defect found in FMCSA roadside inspections. When brake failure ca…
Distracted Driving
Federal law bans commercial drivers from texting or using hand-held phones while driving, with fines up to $2,…
Driver Fatigue
Driver fatigue is a leading cause of serious truck crashes. Federal hours-of-service rules limit drivers to 11…
Impaired Driving (Alcohol & Drugs)
Commercial drivers are held to a 0.04% blood-alcohol limit — half the standard for other drivers — and are sub…
Hours of Service Violations
Hours-of-service (HOS) rules are federal regulations limiting how long commercial drivers can be on the road. …
Maintenance Failures
Federal regulations (49 CFR Part 396) require motor carriers to systematically inspect, repair, and maintain e…
Negligent Hiring & Training
Federal rules require motor carriers to maintain a driver qualification file for every driver — including empl…
Overloaded & Improperly Loaded Cargo
Federal law generally caps combination trucks at 80,000 pounds gross weight. Overloading lengthens stopping di…
Speeding & Aggressive Driving
A loaded semi-truck traveling 65 mph needs about 525 feet to stop — and every extra 5 mph adds destructive for…
Tire Blowout
A truck tire blowout at highway speed can throw a tractor-trailer across lanes or send a 100-pound tread secti…
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