Truck accidents are unfortunately common on California’s busy highways and roads. When a truck accident occurs, investigators must determine the cause – whether it was due to mechanical failure of the truck or driver error. Identifying the cause is crucial for determining liability and preventing future accidents.
Mechanical Failure
Mechanical failures are one potential cause of truck accidents. Some examples of mechanical issues that could lead to a crash include:
- Brake failure – Worn out or faulty brake components can cause the brakes to fail partially or completely. This makes it impossible for the driver to slow down or stop.
- Tire blowout – If a tire has worn down or has a defect, it can suffer a dangerous blowout while driving at high speeds. This can cause the driver to lose control.
- Steering failure – Problems with the steering gearbox, tie rods, or other steering components can make the truck impossible to steer properly.
- Engine failure – If the truck’s engine shuts down unexpectedly, the driver will lose power assist for brakes and steering.
A thorough mechanical inspection after the accident can identify any defective parts that failed. The truck’s maintenance records can also show if the company was negligent in ensuring proper repairs and upkeep.
Driver Errors
Mistakes made by the truck driver are another major cause of accidents. Examples of driver errors include:
- Speeding – Excessive speed reduces a driver’s control and increases stopping distance. This makes accidents much more likely.
- Distraction – Eating, texting, talking on a phone, or messing with the radio takes the driver’s attention away from the road.
- Fatigue – Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving. Truckers staying on the road too long without rest can fall asleep at the wheel.
- Impaired driving – Drugs, alcohol, or medication can impair the driver’s motor skills and judgment. This leads to reckless driving.
- Aggressive driving – Tailgating, improper passing, failure to signal turns, and other errors reflect poor training or an aggressive attitude.
Analyzing Driver Actions
Investigators will analyze the driver’s actions leading up to the accident. They will check phone and GPS records for distraction, examine driving logs for fatigue, and test for drug/alcohol impairment. Even if mechanical failure occurred, driver error may have prevented the driver from responding properly to the emergency.
Determining Blame
In many truck accidents, blame cannot be assigned exclusively to the driver or trucking company. There are often multiple factors at play involving both human error and mechanical issues. Thorough investigation and analysis are required to determine how much each factor contributed to causing the crash. This in turn will decide the liability for each party and what could have been done to prevent it.
Assessing the root causes of truck accidents requires digging into both the mechanical condition of the vehicle as well as the behavior and state of the driver. Mechanical inspection and driver record analysis can reveal failures and errors that led to the crash. This is why consulting one of our truck accident lawyers is critical.
Contact us today for advice if you suffered an injury in a truck accident.
You can visit our office at 536 Pacific Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133.
Call now for a free consultation on (415) 352-6264.