Common Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents: How to Stay Safe on the Road

Commercial truck accidents can be incredibly dangerous for everyone involved. The sheer size of commercial trucks means that these accidents can cause very serious injuries and property damage.

Unfortunately, reckless driving behaviors cause most truck accidents, especially on the busy Anaheim freeways, like the SR 91 and I-5, or the roads leading to Disneyland on Katella Avenue and Ball Road. Many of these accidents can be prevented with safer driving habits–both from truck drivers and everyday motorists. Here are some of the reasons why commercial truck accidents happen on the road and how we can prevent them.

Distracted driving is one of the major causes of truck accidents. Truck drivers spend so much of their time on the road and in traffic each day, so naturally, they may get bored. The same goes for other drivers on long commutes. When you’re bored, it can be tempting to check your text messages or look at social media, but looking away from the road for even a second could result in an accident. 

To reduce the temptation to check your phone, put it in a place you can’t reach while you’re driving. If you want to listen to music or podcasts while driving, set up your playlist ahead of time, so you don’t have to look away to adjust it. It’s also important to schedule breaks at rest stops where you can check your phone and unwind. 

Commercial truck driving shifts can be very long and exhausting. As a result, fatigue is one of the most common causes of truck accidents. If you know you’re going to be on the road the next day, getting enough sleep the night before is a must. It’s also important to fuel your body with healthy foods and drinks. 

Unfortunately, not all of these issues can be prevented with healthy habits. Some commercial truck companies schedule unreasonably long shifts for their drivers. There are federal laws that limit the amount of time a driver can be behind the wheel each day. While trucking companies should be complying with these laws, sometimes there are violations that slip through the cracks. 

Although fatigue is particularly common among truck drivers, it can happen to anyone who drives for a long period of time. While driving, if you notice trucks or passenger vehicles near you exhibiting odd driving patterns, like swerving, making abrupt stops, or not keeping up with the pace of the flow of traffic, keep your distance and get as far away as possible.

Some crashes involving large trucks are caused by inexperienced truck drivers. For example, although many truck drivers make sure to secure their cargo before take off, poorly trained drivers may skip this step. As a result, the cargo may fall off to oncoming drivers and cause serious injury to a lot of people on the road.

Another example of inexperience is driver error. It takes skill to drive huge commercial vehicles, and turning the wheel to quickly may cause the semi truck to tip over. It is every trucking company's responsibility to properly educate their drivers.