Stockton Truck Accidents Lawyers

How Do Stockton Truck Collisions Happen?

Truck collisions in the Stockton region can happen for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include distracted driving, impaired driving, improper loading procedures, failing to adjust mirrors, disregarding traffic laws, and inexperienced drivers.

First, some truck accidents in Stockton happen because of distracted driving. A distracted driver does not give sufficient time or attention to the road. Instead of observing the road, a truck driver might be adjusting a radio, listening to loud music, programming a GPS navigation device, or responding to a cellular phone text message. These activities may divert a truck driver’s eyes off the road, preventing them from seeing an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian and causing a severe crash.

In addition to distracted driving, some truck accidents happen when people drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Passenger vehicles are intoxicated if they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or greater.

Commercial truck drivers, on the other hand, must follow stricter legal standards.

Alcohol can alter a driver’s depth perception, blur their vision, and delay their reaction time. Alcohol may also impair reflexes, preventing drivers from stopping their trucks in time to avoid a crash.

In addition to alcohol intoxication, some truck drivers resort to stimulant drugs to try and keep themselves awake for long hours. The trucking companies that employ these drivers are sometimes partially to blame for this activity since drivers often receive high bonuses for delivering their cargo to its final destination ahead of schedule. However, when truck drivers take these drugs, they may become drowsy while behind the wheel, causing them to fall asleep and cause a serious traffic crash.

In addition to distracted and impaired truck driving, some accidents happen when drivers fail to load cargo onto their trucks properly. Federal and state motor carrier regulations prescribe the proper procedures for loading and unloading truck freight to a trailer. When a truck driver does not load the cargo properly, the truck may become top-heavy, or its center of balance may become offset. As a result, the truck might overturn while proceeding around a sharp curve, causing a multi-vehicle pile-up.

Truck accidents may also happen when drivers fail to adjust their mirrors adequately. Truck drivers must look in their side view mirrors frequently to see what’s behind them. If they fail to adjust their mirrors or use them properly, they may not see an approaching vehicle, cutting the vehicle off in traffic and causing a severe collision.

Collisions that involve large trucks may also happen when drivers violate traffic laws, such as by exceeding the posted speed limit or failing to yield the right-of-way to other vehicles at the proper times. A truck driver might also forget to use their turn signals when switching lanes or turning, causing a severe accident.

Finally, some truck accidents happen due to driver inexperience. When trucking companies fail to ensure that their drivers attend the necessary continuing education classes and log a certain number of hours while on the road, an inexperienced driver may cause an accident that leads to severe injuries and damages.

Truck drivers must also ensure that their brake systems always work correctly and that their lights work.

If you suffered injuries in a truck crash resulting from driver error or negligence, you should seek the legal help you need immediately. The Stockton truck accident attorneys at Silva Injury Law can evaluate your circumstances and determine your eligibility for filing a successful claim or lawsuit. We can assist you with every step of the claims-filing and litigation processes and work to recover fair monetary damages on your behalf.