Truck Accidents Can Happen For A Number Of Reasons

As the driver of a passenger vehicle in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area, you know one thing to be true: You’ll often find yourself in close proximity to commercial trucks.

It doesn’t matter if you’re driving on I-79 from Pittsburgh to Washington on your commute home after an exhausting day at work or sitting on I-376 in rush hour traffic, we all have to share the road properly in order to remain safe.

Unfortunately, even if you’re the type to follow the rules of the road, it doesn’t mean that others will take the same approach. For example, truck drivers often make questionable decisions. As a result, they increase the likelihood of an accident that could involve one or more innocent party.

Here are some of the most common causes of a commercial truck accident:

Reckless driving. This can mean many things, such as when a trucker neglects to follow the speed limit.
Inadequate training. Truck drivers are expected to know the rules of the road, how to drive safely, and what to do in each and every situation. When a driver doesn’t receive the right training, he or she is at risk of causing an accident.
System of compensation that promotes dangerous driving. When a trucking company sets unrealistic deadlines, drivers often take more risks on the road. This means driving too fast and not staying off the road when they should be resting.
Distracted driving. Even with a variety of laws in place to protect against this, many truck drivers continue to make this mistake. For instance, they talk on their cellphone when they shouldn’t be doing so. Or maybe they answer a text message instead of keeping their eyes on the road.

If you’ve spent a lot of time on the highways in and around Pittsburgh, there’s a good chance that you’ve come across at least one truck accident.

If you ever find yourself in this situation, you should do three things:

Attempt to move your vehicle to a safe place, if possible.
Call for immediate medical assistance.
Learn more about your legal rights to ensure that you collect any compensation you deserve.

A truck accident is not the same as a crash that involves two passenger vehicles. Due to the size difference, the people in the passenger car are at a disadvantage. This is why truck accidents often cause serious injury and sadly, death, more so than standard vehicles. We all have a right to feel safe on the roads, but take extra precautions when you find yourself near or passing commercial truck s and 18-wheelers.