Watsonville Truck Accidents Lawyers

Trucking Accidents In Watsonville

Watsonville is known for the production of agricultural crops and goods along the Northern Pacific Coast and is home to some of the largest agribusinesses and manufacturers in the state. Transportation is a huge part of these industries and everyday life. You will nearly always see semi-truck traffic in the area. This is a sign of a strong economy, but it also causes potentially dangerous traffic conditions for others on the road.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a total of 4,119 people died in trucking accidents in 2019. Of these deaths, 16%  were truck occupants, 67% were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 15 % were pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists.

Distracted Driving

If you have ever taken a long road trip and had to drive for an extended time, you understand how hard it can be to keep your attention on the road. Driving long distances on rural highways like those surrounding Watsonville can get boring. Distracted driving occurs anytime the driver’s attention is diverted from the road. Changing the radio station, sending a text, or staring at something on the side of the road, can all serve as the catalyst for a collision.

Driving While Tired

There are strict laws and regulations that govern how many hours a truck driver can drive in a single shift before stopping for a break. Depending on how many hours the driver has been on the road, the law may require them to take extended periods of time to sleep. When companies fail to enforce these rules, or drivers refuse to follow them, driver fatigue can be a big problem.

Driving Under the Influence

Drug and alcohol abuse is a problem in the trucking industry. Drivers spend a lot of time alone, which can make it difficult to identify when someone has a problem. Drivers choosing amphetamines to keep them awake on long drives is a known issue in the industry. Many substances can impair driving ability.

Improperly Loaded Cargo

Ensuring trailer balance is not always as easy as it sounds. And in some cases, the person loading a trailer does not pay careful attention. An unbalanced trailer can cause cargo to shift or the trailer to pull, which is extremely dangerous.

Excessive Speed

A semi-truck takes longer to stop than a passenger vehicle. Drivers exceeding the speed limit in any vehicle reduce their time to react to a situation. In a semi-truck, having to stop quickly could be catastrophic and increase the probability of a semi-truck crash.