California hosts some of the busiest roads and highways in the United States. As an important hub for commerce where big rigs and passenger vehicles frequently intermingle, truck accidents, unfortunately, occur far too often. According to the California Highway Patrol’s 2021 Annual Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System Report, large trucks were involved in over 15,000 crashes resulting in more than 500 deaths and over 14,000 injuries statewide.
When a collision involves a multi-ton truck, the occupants of passenger vehicles tend to suffer the most devastating consequences in injuries and loss of life. Determining the cause of truck accidents can not only bring some kind of explanation or closure to victims and their families, but also serve the pursuit of legal justice. As experienced California personal injury accident lawyers, we explore some of the common causes of these catastrophic crashes across the state.
Driver Fatigue
Excessive drowsiness significantly slows reaction time while impairing attention and judgment – critical abilities needed for operating trucks, where any small mistake can turn fatal. Truck drivers in California are legally allowed drive up to 11 hours per day, after they have been off for ten consecutive hours, but the grueling nature of the job induces fatigue much sooner. Attempts to meet strict delivery deadlines further motivate many drivers to flout rest regulations, and some companies push their drivers to go above and beyond.
Unfortunately, many trucking companies directly or indirectly overwork their drivers through unrealistic transport timetables. Continuous hours on the road deprive the human body of adequate sleep and rest. Fatigued truckers who doze off even briefly at highway speeds can wake up to tragedy unfolding in front of them. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation impairs faculties comparable to alcohol intoxication. Drowsy drivers may not drift out of the lane or fall completely asleep, but reflexes, vigilance and information processing still suffer substantially. With so many vulnerable road users around trucks, these marginal deficiencies prove extremely hazardous. Thankfully, tracking technology has helped to cut down on the number of truck drivers working long and unrealistic shifts.
Impaired Driving
Intoxicating substances severely impede motor skills and cognitive functions essential for safe driving. Truck drivers face immense pressure to stay alert and focused during long hauls. Against such strain, a minority unfortunately turn to alcohol or drugs which only heighten impairment.
Field sobriety tests after some truck collisions have led to arrests of drivers for intoxicated operation. Even minor levels of alcohol and marijuana use can dangerously dull reaction timing for truck control. Prescription or over-the-counter medication side effects also pose risks, yet many truckers fail to adjust driving habits accordingly.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving
The massive weight and size of trucks require far more distance and time to slow down safely than typical passenger cars. Truckers therefore must diligently observe speed limits, traffic patterns, road features to properly control their vehicles.
When truck drivers ignore such precautions and exceed reasonable speeds, the threat to all around them spikes astronomically. Even minor errors can send multi-ton trucks careening out of control for horrific consequences. Aggressive behaviors like tailgating only compound such reckless endangerment of innocent lives. Studies indicate that driving 5-10 mph over speed limits exacerbates crash severity and fatalities risk. For 20-ton tractor-trailers, an extra 10 mph burdens all vehicles and occupants around them across accident scenarios.
Trucking Company Negligence
While individual trucker misconduct clearly causes many accidents, the trucking companies pressuring unsafe behavior also bear substantial blame.
To satisfy demanding freight contracts, some carriers implement unrealistic transport timetables which compel exhausted driving. Routine truck maintenance like brake servicing also suffers under hectic operations tempo and staffing strains. The under-prioritization of driver health, truck safety inspections and repairs suggest corporate cultures that are negligent to public safety for those sharing the road.
Poor Cargo Securement & Overloading Violations
Unbalanced or unsecured cargo loads can cause trucks to dangerously tip over or jackknife at speed. California and federal regulations mandate proper cargo distribution/securement to prevent such instability threatening safe control. Overloading trucks beyond maximum weight capacities likewise jeopardizes vehicle handling and stopping distance.
Unfortunately, Department of Transportation officers report frequent securement and overloading violations amongst inspected trucks. Such rampant non-compliance indicates major holes in carriers’ safety protocols and driver training. The careless oversights all too easily contribute to horrific highway accidents, including the following tragedies:
- Sacramento Freeway Tanker Truck Fire (2014) – Five people were killed in a fiery multi-vehicle crash involving a tanker truck carrying over 8,700 gallons of gasoline. A sudden traffic slowdown led the fuel tanker to crash into other cars and erupt into flames on the I-80 in Sacramento.
- 2015 I-5 Tour Bus Crash – A tour bus collided with a Volvo big rig on I-5 near Los Banos during dense fog. Five passengers, the bus driver, and truck driver were killed while dozens more bus occupants were injured.
Driver Training & Experience Deficits
Truck driving requires extensive skill development and experience managing combination vehicles over 60 feet long at highway speeds. However, industry strains have perpetuated alarming short-cuts undermining safety foundations. The FMCSA minimum training requirement for commercial licenses remains woefully inadequate for real on-road preparedness. Major carriers themselves invest little further instruction for proficiency across environments and scenarios.
So, inexperienced drivers lacking competency to handle common occurrences like mechanical issues or inclement weather all too easily succumb to catastrophe behind the wheel of multi-ton trucks. Enforcement limitations also enable abundant fraud in logging supervised driving time for licensing. The pervasive lack of quality driver training interacts with previously discussed factors to devastate so many innocent accident victims yearly.
Avoiding a Truck Accident Nightmare
The factors above interact to varying degrees in causing truck crashes with catastrophic fallout across California annually. The pursuit of legal justice begins with identifying liable parties and determining fair compensation for victims facing long recoveries. Experienced truck accident attorneys conduct thorough investigations of liability root causes while aggressively advocating for injured clients. They help restore lives upended by preventable negligence through compassionate counsel every step of the way.
If you or a loved one suffered from a truck collision, contact a truck accident lawyer at Karns & Karns Truck Accident Attorneys today to understand your rights in holding negligent parties fully accountable. Real change also comes from reforming the underlying systems enabling unsafe trucking practices. Together we can help prevent this heartbreak from devastating other families in our communities. We have offices in California, Texas & Nevada.
