Category: Truck Accidents

When you share the road with a tractor trailer, you may not give a second thought as to the dangers of driving alongside such a massive vehicle. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 3,660 people were killed in large truck accidents across the country in 2014. Not only are big rigs larger than most other vehicles on the road, the trucks’ high profile and long length make them a moving target for bad weather conditions. Truckers who operate tractor trailers must be specially trained on how to maneuver the trucks in inclement weather situations, such as high winds, rain, snow, fog and ice.

Trucks are at risk of sliding, skidding, tipping over and jack-knifing, depending on the type of weather conditions they face. How fast the truck driver is going can also put them at an increased risk of becoming involved in a truck accident. Trucks that are driving in areas of high winds could easily tip over, as the height of the trucks’ trailer can catch the wind. In addition, icy roads may cause a big rig to slide, tip over or jack-knife if the truck is going too fast.

Trucks of all sizes should slow down during times of bad weather. In some cases, truckers may want to pull over and get off of the road if the conditions are too bad and they are not able to see. Heavy fogs can reduce a trucker’s ability to see and can even cause roads to be slick. Trucks traveling at high rates of speed may not be able to brake in time to avoid a catastrophic accident with a car in low visibility conditions.

This information should be used for educational purposes only and should not be used as legal advice.

In an attempt to reduce the number of fatal truck accidents caused by drowsy truck drivers, federal regulations are set in place to limit the amount of time truckers can spend behind the wheel. Not all truck drivers follow these rules, however, and some negligent truckers could endanger the safety of other motorists on the road. At Pryor Priest & Harber, we know that drowsy and reckless truck drivers can cause serious truck accidents in Knoxville and across Tennessee. Unfortunately, these collisions may injure or kill innocent people.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration restricts truckers to 11 hours of driving time a day. Truck drivers are also prohibited from driving more than 60 or 70 hours in any seven or eight consecutive day period. In addition, truckers must take a 30-minute rest break sometime within the first eight hours of their drive time. While these regulations are enforced, it can be difficult to tell whether a trucker is driving drowsy until it is too late.

Truck drivers may be tempted to stay behind the wheel for extended periods of time in order to make more money, get home to their families or to meet tight deadlines. In some cases, trucking companies may be held responsible for scheduling truckers to drive in violation of the federal regulations. Whatever the case may be, the negligent parties should be held responsible for any damages, injuries or deaths that result from their careless actions.

To learn more information about large truck collisions, please visit our page on semi-truck accidents.

There is no question that the massive size and weight of tractor trailers present a danger to motorists on the road. These large vehicles require well-trained, experienced and licensed truckers to operate them, as big rigs can be difficult to maneuver around motor vehicles on Tennessee roadways. An increasing number of large truck accident deaths across the country have officials looking for the causes of these tragic accidents, as well as ways that people can decrease their risk of becoming involved in a big rig collision. Unfortunately, many of these accidents are caused by negligent and reckless truck drivers.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drowsy truckers are a common cause of tractor trailer accidents. Federal laws limit the amount of time truckers can spend behind the wheel. Yet, many truck drivers overlook these regulations in an attempt to make more money and meet tight deadlines. When truckers spend more than eight hours behind the wheel at any given time, they are more likely to fall asleep while driving.

Distracted truckers are also a common cause of accidents. Truckers may become bored after spending hours on the road, and some turn to using their cellphones to text, compose emails and watch videos. Although the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has set laws that prohibit truckers from using cellular devices, many continue to engage in this distractive behavior.

In addition to drowsy and distracted truckers, there are a number of truckers who continue to drive even though they have violations and should not be allowed on the road. The FMCSA reported that approximately 171,150 truckers were taken out of service after they were found driving despite having too many violations. This may be due to a shortage of qualified truck drivers in the industry

There is an art to loading tractor trailers. When fully loaded, massive big rigs can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds in Tennessee and across the country. Large trucks carrying smaller loads, however, can become involved in serious truck accidents when their weight is improperly distributed. Cargo that is packed into a truck can easily shift during travel. When shifting occurs, it can throw off a big rig’s center of gravity. This shift can also cause the truck to experience braking problems, jack-knife, skid or roll over.

Federal laws dictate the amount of weight that can be placed on a truck’s axles and tires, according to EngineMechanics.com. This weight can vary depending on the size of the truck, how many axles it has and the truck’s suspension system. Different driving conditions can also affect the materials in the truck and should be considered when loading. Loads should never be concentrated at the front or back of the trailer, but rather distributed evenly along the center of the trailer in order to maintain a proper center of gravity.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has regulations in place to prevent improper loading in tractor trailers. Not only are large truck operators required to inspect their load before they start out on the road, but they must then recheck the load after driving the first 50 miles to catch any shifting that may have taken place. Depending on the exact weight and size of the material being transported, there are specific ways in which the load should be restrained, as well as what type of equipment should be used to secure the load.

When tractor trailers are not loaded properly or the materials in the truck are not secured, it can be dangerous for the truck driver, as well as all other motorists on the road. 

Just as you must meet certain requirements in order to obtain a driver’s license, truck drivers must also pass tests to receive a commercial driver’s license. These highly specialized vehicles require qualified and trained truckers to operate them and to ensure that they are driven safely on Tennessee roadways. According to the American Trucking Association, however, there is a significant shortage of skilled truck drivers. Not only is this a problem for the trucking industry, but it could put you at a greater risk of being involved in a serious truck accident.

Bloomberg Business reported that as the current population of truck drivers in the U.S. continues to age and retire, there are less truckers willing to take their place. Some attribute this decline of new hires to low wages and the fact that prospective truckers are not willing to spend long periods of time away from their families. Other industries, such as construction, offer comparable wages and allow people to stay home. Federal regulations also require truckers to break more often and take frequent rest periods, which can inhibit their ability to make money as well.

How does this nationwide truck driver shortage affect you? With a lack of well-trained truckers on the road, some trucking companies have turned to using truck drivers that may not be qualified to operate a big rig. In some cases, truckers are scheduled to work long hours in violation of federal regulations, in order to meet tight deadlines and deliver more freight. Drowsy, distracted, untrained and otherwise negligent truckers can lead to catastrophic truck accidents, injuries and even death.

 This information is only intended to educate and should not be taken as legal advice. 

Truck drivers must be qualified, rested and fully coherent in order to safely operate their massive tractor-trailers. Unfortunately, a number of large truck operators choose to drive drunk and risk the lives of thousands of people in Tennessee and across the country. As a way to minimize the risk of truck accidents caused by drunk truck drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration mandates that all commercial driver’s license holders take a drug and alcohol test prior to hitting the open road.

According to the United States Department of Transportation, all part-time, full-time and intermittent commercial truck drivers must be tested for cocaine, opiates, marijuana, amphetamines and PCP. In addition to these substances, truck drivers must undergo an alcohol test to determine their blood alcohol content level. Not only should these tests be given before a trucker is hired, but they may also be required after drivers are involved in certain types of truck accidents.

When a truck driver is given a citation for an accident involving bodily injury to another person or damage to another motor vehicle, the employer must give him or her a drug and alcohol test. In accidents where a human fatality is involved, the truck driver must be tested regardless of whether he or she is cited for the incident. States are able to implement more stringent testing regulations, as long as they meet the minimum federal requirements. Truckers who refuse to take a drug and/or alcohol test or fail a test will most likely lose their ability to drive a truck. In order to regain their commercial driver’s license, the truck driver must undergo a return-to-duty process.

Commercial Carrier Journal reported that the FMCSA has set up a CDL drug and alcohol clearinghouse, which is a database that contains the test results of truck drivers across the nation. Employers and officials can log into the database and find truck drivers’ test results. This will hopefully reduce the number of negligent truck drivers on the road. 

When motorists ride next to tractor trailers on Tennessee roadways, they may feel comforted by the fact that these massive vehicles, truck drivers and trucking companies are regulated by several federal and state agencies. As the large truck accident fatality rate continues to increase, however, many people are wondering whether the current big rig safety devices are enough. One safety regulation requires certain big rigs to be equipped with rear-end underride guard bars that are designed to protect smaller passenger vehicles from riding underneath the truck if a collision occurs. Unfortunately, a number of these safety mechanisms are not built strong enough to withstand the force of an accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, many underride bars run the risk of breaking or crushing under pressure, which poses an even bigger threat to motorists.

According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, Canada also requires trucks to be equipped with underride guards. However, they mandate that the guards must be able to handle an impact of nearly twice the force of what current American underride guards are required to have. Studies found that the Canadian models are often more effective at preventing serious injuries caused by underride bars. The NHTSA is petitioning to strengthen the current underride guard standards, and to expand the use of these safety devices to all types of large trucks.

Currently, there are no regulations in the United States mandating the use of side-rail or front-rail bars, despite research showing that side-rail guards in large trucks could possibly reduce the risk of serious injuries and deaths, according to the IIHS. Although truck manufacturers are not required to build the stronger underride bars, some companies have built the underride guards according to Canadian standards.  

As a driver in Tennessee, you may feel as though tractor trailers threaten your safety on the road. You may, in fact, be justified in feeling this way. The national truck accident fatality rate has increased steadily from 3,211 deaths in 2009 to more than 3,906 deaths in 2013, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As a result, several government agencies have enacted laws and implemented guidelines regulating truck drivers and trucking companies. One recent rule requires the installation of electronic stability control systems on certain large buses and heavy trucks.

The rule was passed in 2015, and applies to buses and tractor trailers that have a total weight of more than 26,000 pounds, as reported by USA Today. Electronic stability control technology detects when a vehicle begins to lose traction, or its ability to grip the road. When these massive trucks lose stability and begin to skid, they run the risk of rolling over or spinning out. ESC helps by preventing vehicles from veering off course when they encounter an emergency situation, like bad weather conditions, poorly maintained roads or hazardous drivers.

You may already own a car, motorcycle or light truck that is equipped with an electronic stability control system, since this technology is common in smaller vehicles. ESC has already helped to save thousands of lives, and officials predict that the mandatory use of this technology in larger trucks will help to prevent more than 1,700 large truck accidents each year.

This information is only intended to educate and should not be taken as legal advice. 

As a driver in Knox County, you may see tractor trailers on the roads every day. While you may be familiar with their massive size, you may not know that driving around these vehicles can be extremely dangerous. Large trucks have unique operating mannerisms that may make it difficult for truck drivers to react to certain situations. By understanding how big rigs operate, you can increase your safety around them and lower your risk of becoming involved in a tragic truck accident.

According to State Farm, there are several safe driving practices that can protect you from becoming the next victim of a big rig collision. Trucks have large blind spots, and truck drivers may be unable to see a smaller vehicle traveling alongside them. If at all possible, you should pass a truck quickly and on the left-hand side in order to avoid becoming caught in a blind spot. If you cannot pass the truck, stay a distance behind them. Also, tractor trailers make wide turns so it is crucial that you give them room to do so.

Tractor trailers need a longer stopping distance, due to their massive weight, size and height. You should never pull out in front of a truck or switch lanes to cut them off. In addition, use your signals so that truckers know exactly where you are going. Keep in mind that bad weather conditions, such as ice, snow, rain, fog and wind, can pose a hazard for large trucks. Truckers may lose control of their rig, jack-knife or slide off of the road. Drive slow and stay away from large trucks during these times.

While you may not be able to control a truck driver’s actions, you can make sure that you are prepared to face whatever comes your way.

This is general information only and is not intended to provide legal advice.

The large truck fatality rate in the U.S. has increased significantly since 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A number of these deadly accidents involving big rigs are caused by equipment malfunction. Tractor trailers must be manuvered by people who have been specially trained and licensed to operate the oversized vehicles. Yet, even the most seasoned truckers may have trouble handling a tractor trailer that is experiencing equipment malfunction.

Defective big rigs may experience problems with the following:

•          Tires
•          Brakes
•          Steering mechanisms
•          Speed monitoring controls

Even tractor trailers that have been equipped with state-of-the-art safety devices can be dangerous when those components fail to work properly.

In a study published in the National Institutes of Health, researchers evaluated large trucks that had been involved in a collision, as well as other big rigs on the road at the time an accident occurred. They found that 66 percent of the trucks that were not involved in a crash, and 77 percent of big rigs that were involved in a collision had significant mechanical defects. Many of the tractor trailers should not have been allowed out on the road in the first place.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets certain guidelines when it comes to inspecting and maintaining commercial trucks. Yet, some trucking companies and independent truckers fail to perform these necessary inspections, and as a result, continue to drive their dangerous vehicles. In 2012, officers conducted random roadside inspections of big rigs. More than 2.1 million trucks were immediately taken off of the road because they had too many equipment violations.

People who operate large trucks should be especially careful to check their equipment before setting out on the road. One small malfunction could cost someone their life.