Speeding drivers, other risky behavior can cause a truck accident

Missourians who encounter large trucks on the road might be intimidated by their size and the speeds at which they travel. It can be scary to share the road with these large vehicles and imagine the aftermath of a crash with one of them. Since they dwarf conventional vehicles, a truck accident can lead to serious injury and death. While some accidents are unavoidable due to circumstances, others happen due to truck driver behavior. When there is a trucking accident, the reason it occurred can be a key factor in a claim for compensation. Research can help to determine why these incidents occur.

SmartDrive Systems used video analysis to study truck drivers and their behaviors. It found that truckers who drive at excessive speeds are at triple the risk of failing to drive at a safe distance when following other vehicles, have a 45 percent greater chance of being in a near crash, and are 2.5 times more likely to drive while distracted when compared to truckers who do not speed. In its research, SmartDrive formulated a SmartIQ report to examine speeding. In it, there were more than 220 million vehicles studied as part of the analysis.

In its research, it found that drivers who speed are more likely to cross over the center line or the median; are more likely to fail to stop when there is a red light or a stop sign; and engage in unsafe lane changes and merges more frequently. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 27 percent of fatal accidents cited speeding as a factor.

Truckers are obligated to be more careful on the road than other drivers because their vehicles can do such significant damage when involved in an accident. Those who are injured in a truck crash can face major medical expenses and long-term damage personally and financially. When there is a fatality, the family will want answers for why their loved one died and will need assistance moving forward. A law firm experienced in truck accident claims can help with an investigation and in pursuing compensation.

Source: ttnews.com, “Speeders More Likely to Practice Other Unsafe Behavior,” May 4, 2018