Some types of crashes are far more serious than others. When a semi-truck or other sizable commercial vehicle collides with a passenger vehicle, the consequences can potentially be tragic.
While drivers may want to avoid any type of crash, preventing a semi-truck collision should be a top priority in traffic. Those who understand the causes of semi-truck collisions can potentially act to avoid them. The following are the top reported reasons for collisions between passenger vehicles and 18-wheelers.
Getting too close to big trucks
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), slightly less than half of all semi-truck crashes are the fault of the smaller vehicle. Often, these collisions occur because those in passenger vehicles don’t give commercial trucks adequate space. Staying out of blind spots, leaving plenty of room when merging or turning in front of a semi-truck and being aware of their presence at intersections can help drivers avoid causing a crash.
Mistakes by commercial drivers
When looking at the cause of crashes where the semi-truck is to blame, most of those wrecks involve errors on the part of the commercial driver. The FMCSA recognizes decision-making errors as the top cause of semi-truck crashes. When a commercial driver doesn’t leave enough space or when they drive at an unsafe speed, they may end up causing a crash due to their faulty decision-making.
Recognition errors
The FMCSA reports recognition errors as the second leading cause of crashes where semi-truck drivers are at fault. They fail to check for a vehicle in their blind spots or look down at a dispatch device when approaching an intersection. The failure to notice other vehicles can lead to truck drivers making mistakes that ultimately cause a collision.
Driver non-performance
Sometimes, the truck driver is at fault because of what they failed to do rather than what they actively do while driving. Non-performance occurs when a driver becomes incapable of controlling a commercial truck. They may have fallen asleep at the wheel due to extreme fatigue. They may also have experienced a medical emergency, like a stroke. Such incidents can lead to severe collisions with tragic consequences for others in traffic.
Issues with a commercial vehicle
According to the FMCSA, approximately one in 10 crashes caused by a big truck is the result of an issue with the vehicle. Bad brakes, tire blowouts and improperly-loaded trailers can all lead to preventable collisions.
There may be insurance coverage available after a crash caused by a semi-truck. In more extreme cases, the people affected by a crash may have the option of pursuing a personal injury lawsuit.
Learning about what causes semi-truck collisions can help people avoid wrecks and respond appropriately when they do occur. The vast majority of crashes are preventable with better driving habits.