Driver Inexperience is a Leading Cause of Truck Accidents

As the number of vehicles on our nation’s roads continues to increase, so do the chances of being involved in a car crash. These crashes occur for a lot of different reasons and range in severity from relatively minor fender benders to fatal head-on collisions. Unfortunately, when commercial trucks are involved, these collisions are almost always serious. Even more frustrating is the fact that many are the result of driver error and when it comes to truck accidents, these errors are often made by inexperienced truck drivers.

A Shortage of Truck Drivers 

Large commercial vehicles are much more difficult to operate than standard passenger vehicles and are a lot harder to navigate due to their size, which is why drivers are required to undergo so much training and licensing before they get on the road. Unfortunately, a recent shortage of commercial vehicle drivers in the U.S. has led to an increase in the recruitment of more inexperienced drivers, a trend that has proven dangerous to other road users. One recent study, conducted by the National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence, for instance, found that inexperience vastly increases the crash risk of truck drivers across all age groups.

Why a Lack of Truck Driver Experience is Dangerous 

Inexperienced truck drivers are more likely to make certain errors that could end up having devastating consequences for other road users, including:

• Speeding, which, while always dangerous when driving is doubly so for commercial vehicles, which are harder to control and cause a lot more damage in the event of a collision;
• Overloading cargo, with a failure to adhere to loading guidelines increasing the risk of swaying, overturning, and a loss of control;
• Making unsafe lane changes, which is much more dangerous due to the extra large blind spots on most commercial vehicles;
• Failing to take the necessary rest breaks, which increases the chances of distracted or fatigued driving;
• Tailgating other vehicles, which is particularly dangerous because commercial vehicles take a much longer time to come to a stop than the average passenger car;
• Taking turns too fast, which is especially risky for commercial trucks, as they are extremely top heavy and so much more likely to roll over; and
• Failing to conduct adequate inspections and maintenance, which is legally required, as commercial vehicles experience much more wear and tear than most vehicles.

If a truck driver’s mistake or inexperience led to your own truck accident, you could be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, vehicle damage, and lost wages. For help investigating the cause of your crash and identifying the at fault parties who caused it, please call our experienced truck accident legal team today.

 Tulsa Trucking Accident Lawyers 

If you believe that your own truck accident was the result of a trucking company’s failure to properly train or vet its drivers, feel free to reach out to the dedicated Tulsa truck accident attorneys at Levinson Law, P.C. to learn more about your legal options. You can set up a free consultation by calling 918-492-4433 today.

Sources: 

fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/2020-07/VTTI-CMV-Driver-Risk-by-Age-and-Experience-July2020-MCSAC-FINAL.pdf

vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/items/a73eaf6a-03fa-4f7f-b34c-deb67a33a4aa