You may see a few dozen semitrucks every time you get on the highway. It’s typical for these trucks to be on the highway for hours or days at a time.
So if trucks are meant to be on the road for hours on end, why do these trucks fail so often? Here’s what you should know:
Companies frequently put too much pressure on their drivers
Quite often, truckers have far too little control over their own schedules. A trucking accident could be caused by the constant work a trucker is required to do to meet the expectations of the company for which they work.
Truckers are put on constant deadlines that cause them to skip hot meals, cold baths, good sleep and maintenance on the vehicle that keeps them working. They may have to drive long distances to deliver a shipment only to hit the road immediately after with a new load.
Companies often fail to keep their trucks in good operating condition
It may be the company that is responsible for the maintenance of the semitruck. They may skip out on required repairs in favor of putting the vehicle back on the road as quickly as possible. A semitruck may fail shortly after a shoddy maintenance job and put the driver and people around them at risk of injuries.
Vehicle degradation can not only cause problems for the driver but it can put the people around the vehicle in danger. A truck can suddenly fail because of a broken frame, brake failure, a dead battery or worn tires without the proper maintenance it needs. A broken truck could drive off the road, crash into other drivers or suddenly stop, leading to serious or fatal injuries for everyone involved.
If you were recently in an accident with a semitruck then you should know who is at fault so that you can fully recover your losses. Quite often, the company – not the driver – deserves the blame. Since the company usually has deeper pockets than its employee, that’s an important consideration for your claim.