Phoenix, Tempe, Glendale, and Neighboring Areas - Truck Accident Attorneys - Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Unique dangers arise when small passenger vehicles must share the road with commercial vehicles, such as eighteen wheelers and other large freight carriers. Commercial truck drivers need to take special precautions when maneuvering large vehicles, while drivers of passenger vehicles must use more caution when in the presence of large trucks. High-speed collisions that occur on major highways have resulted in many tragedies in the Phoenix, Tempe, and Glendale area. The truck accident attorneys at Begam, Lewis & Marks are expertly trained in handling these cases, and understand the common situations that can contribute to these accidents.
- Truck Accidents Caused by Commercial Truck Drivers
- Truck Accidents Caused by Passenger Vehicle Drivers
Truck Accidents Caused by Commercial Truck Drivers
In addition to the inherent dangers caused by the greater size and weight of commercial trucks, a number of factors can contribute to truck accidents. While most commercial truck drivers are skilled and cautious, some collisions are caused by negligence or recklessness on the part of the truck driver. Inadequate training in defensive driving techniques for large trucks is another common cause of commercial truck accidents. Trucking companies may have unrealistic expectations in regards to drivers’ schedules and hours of vehicle operation, leading to hurried drivers, faster speeds, and more hours behind the wheel than are normally advisable. Being forced to meet tight deadlines often results in driver fatigue, which can take the form of losing focus while driving or falling asleep behind the wheel. In some cases, the actual cargo being hauled can lead to hazardous road conditions, such as chemical spills or the sloshing of a liquid load.
Unfortunately, some truck drivers engage in risky behavior that directly results in tragic accidents in the Phoenix, Glendale, and Tempe area and across the United States. Our truck accident attorneys will aggressively defend the rights of any driver who was injured or killed due to a commercial truck driver’s reckless or negligent behavior.
Truck Accidents Caused by Passenger Vehicle Drivers
The majority of trucking accidents occur as a result of errors made by the drivers of passenger vehicles. Commercial trucks are unable to break or accelerate as quickly as small cars, and a truck driver often has low visibility of the areas surrounding the truck. For these reasons, there are specific actions that need to be avoided when sharing the road with a large truck, including:
- Driving in the blind spots or “no-zones” of the truck. No-zones are other areas besides the typical blind spot that are not visible to the truck driver.
- Changing lanes in front of a truck without leaving enough room, or “cutting off” the truck
- Not keeping an adequate following distance between the passenger car and the truck
- Passing on the right
- Abandoning a vehicle in a travel lane without pushing it to the shoulder
- Lingering to the right of a truck that is attempting to make a right turn
- Miscalculating an oncoming truck’s speed at an intersection and making a left turn in front of it
Contact Begam, Lewis & Marks
If you were involved in a truck accident near Phoenix, Glendale, or Tempe, Arizona, one of our truck accident attorneys can secure compensation for your injuries and property damage if the accident was the fault of the other party. Contact a personal injury lawyer at our firm to learn more about your rights in a truck accident.
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Please contact Begam, Lewis & Marks to speak with one of our Phoenix, Glendale, Tempe, and greater Arizona-area truck accident attorneys.
Address:
111 W. Monroe St. Suite #1400
Phoenix, Arizona 85003
Toll Free:
866-417-4078
Phone:
602-635-1535
