North Carolina Negligence And Truck Accidents Attorney

Drivers of large commercial trucks are 10 times more likely to cause an accident than other factors such as bad weather, adverse road conditions, and poor vehicle performance. A study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found that negligent action (or inaction) by truck drivers was the reason for approximately 88 percent of collisions, and the most common causes of trucking accidents are driver fatigue and sleep deprivation.

Another common cause of truck accidents is equipment failure due to issues such as defective tires or design flaws. However, most accidents with mechanical causes actually result from negligence, specifically failure to properly maintain the equipment, such as:

Removing or depowering front brakes.
Failing to replace worn tires.
Improper load securing or distribution.
Incorrect trailer attachment.

Federal laws have been enacted to more closely regulate the trucking industry by imposing strict requirements on truck drivers, trucking companies and truck manufacturers. In addition to enforcing extensive licensing requirements, these laws also attempt to regulate the number of hours a truck driver may drive at one time, forcing drivers to rest between shifts.

Accidents Not Always the Trucker’s Fault

Contrary to what many people may think, not all trucking accidents are the fault of the truck driver. Justia estimates that more than 75 percent of all trucking accidents are caused by the negligent actions of passenger vehicles employing unsafe driving tactics, such as:

Driving in a truck’s blind spots.
Aggressive driving.
Following a truck too closely.
Distracted driving.
Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Contact Our North Carolina Truck Accident Attorneys Today

Were you seriously injured in a truck accident due to the actions of a negligent driver? Contact the North Carolina truck accident attorneys at Nagle & Associates, P.A. online or call (800) 411-1583 to set up your free initial case evaluation today. We can help.