Semi-truck collisions often begin with serious driver errors. A person in a passenger vehicle might drive in the blind spot of a semi-truck, or a commercial driver might maintain unsafe speeds in heavy traffic.
Other times, the underlying cause of a semi-truck collision might be a problem with one of the vehicles, rather than the choices made by the people operating those vehicles. In scenarios where issues with a commercial truck directly cause a tragic collision, businesses may be liable for the crash that occurred.
Vehicle issues are a leading cause of crashes
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) assesses commercial crashes to understand the most common causes of these collisions. Decision-making errors, inadequate surveillance and non-performance caused by fatigue or medical emergencies are the most common causes of semi-truck collisions.
However, the FMCSA also identifies vehicle issues as a top cause of commercial wrecks. Approximately one in 10 semi-truck crashes occur due to issues with the commercial truck.
Those issues may relate to maintenance or defective components. Trucking companies, vehicle manufacturers and maintenance or service professionals could be liable for the crash in those cases.
Other times, the vehicle issue that caused the crash involves problems with the load inside the trailer. Imbalanced and unsecured loads can lead to drivers losing control and devastating, preventable collisions. The party that loaded the trailer might be liable in that situation.
Reviewing what caused a semi-truck collision with a skilled legal team is a key component of any successful post-crash compensation claim. The professional insight of a personal injury attorney can help the people affected by semi-truck collisions evaluate crash reports and identify liable parties, in addition to providing help with securing rightful compensation.