Truck Driver Errors, Negligence and Recklessness
We've all made mistakes behind the wheel. Roads are crowded. There are blind spots. We sometimes get distracted. Most of the time, those mistakes don't cause anything more than a bit of anger in other drivers.
Truck drivers have less margin for error — they often weigh 60,000 to 80,000 pounds (20 to 25 times the weight of an average car — think of the difference between an NFL lineman and a baby). Trucks need more distance to stop. Trucks have big blind spots. Trucks tip over more easily. The braking systems on trucks and trailers are complicate and require frequent adjustment and at least daily checks. Every truck driver on the road should be aware of these risk factors and of the potentially devastating consequences of a mistake.
If a truck driver's careless mistake has put you and your family in a world of hurt, remember that filing a lawsuit against the driver, trucking company and their insurers is not about trying to punish someone for an honest mistake. It's about accountability. It's about asking for a fair shake. And it's about making highways safer for everyone. At Plattner Verderame, P.C., you'll find the help you'll need to obtain justice and fair compensation.
Find out for yourself why other law firms have relied on our expertise and referred difficult cases to us for years. For a free consultation, call our law offices directly or contact us online and one of our Arizona Bar Board Certified Specialists in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation will be in touch with you shortly.
Examples of Trucking Company Negligence
Trucking companies get paid by the amount of cargo hauled and the number of miles traveled. The more time they're on the road with cargo and the more miles they cover, the more money they make. Sometimes the push for more and more money results in companies' cutting corners on safety.
Some ways of cutting corners: encouraging drivers to speed by paying them by the mile and ignoring how fast they get from Point A to Point B; turning a blind eye to drivers working too many hours with too little sleep; hiring untrained drivers; ignoring a pattern of traffic tickets or other safety violations; neglecting needed equipment maintenance; etc.
Examples of Driver Error and Negligence
Although truck accidents can also be the result of trucking company negligence or caused by defective truck parts or components, many accidents involve some degree of driver error.
Some of the more common types of errors and negligent actions our attorneys have seen over the past three decades include drivers:
- Speeding, driving too fast for conditions
- Following too closely behind other cars
- Failing to properly secure their load
- Falling asleep at the wheel after skipping mandatory rest or sleep breaks
- Driving an overloaded vehicle
- Neglecting proper maintenance (owner-operators)
- Changing lanes without looking
- Drinking or taking drugs before getting behind the wheel
In any case, the sooner an independent investigation begins, the better. Taking pictures of the scene. Identifying and interviewing potential witnesses. Carefully reviewing official accident reports filed by law enforcement. Securing access to the truck's black box (ECM) data. All of these actions could reveal the evidence needed to establish what happened and why.
With decades of experience with truck accident investigations, we know where to look for the critical evidence needed to reconstruct the sequence of decisions and events. Our lawyers also have access to the right kinds of experts, including electronic data specialists who know how to decipher crucial information that might be contained on the truck's Electronic Control Module (black box).
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If you or a loved one has recently been injured in an auto accident that involved a large commercial truck — contact Plattner Verderame, P.C., today. If you're an honest person with honest injuries, we're a law firm that wants to help you.
We handle most truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you won't owe us anything unless we obtain a verdict or settlement on your behalf.
We Also Represent Injured Truck Drivers When Their Injuries Are Caused By Another's Fault.
