Stay Clear of Trucks Traveling at High Speeds

A motorist stranded next to their disabled vehicle was killed by a gravel truck on February 12th, 2018, in Yuba County, California. The gravel truck took a turn too fast, leading it to tip over and crush the deceased in what is being described as a freak accident.

Though the particular details of this incident are rare, deaths caused by semis and other large trucks tipping over are much too common. Due to their large size and weight, trucks in excess of 6,000 pounds are significantly more likely to tip over than other vehicles. This is even more likely to occur in areas with high winds or frozen roadways.

According to the most extensive study published on the subject, there are three common causes of these types of rollover accidents, including:

• Truck drivers taking turns at an unsafe rate of speed, including driving through winding roads at unnecessarily high speeds
• Driver inattention, including failing to pay attention to changes in road conditions and hazards in the road, and also including the driver falling asleep or being fatigued at the wheel
• Driver steering error, including improper lane management and overcorrection in response to drifting between lanes

All three of these are preventable by safe driving. If truck drivers obeyed the speed limit, paid attention to their surroundings, only drove while alert, and properly steered their vehicles, most of these accidents could be prevented. Tip-over accidents are incredibly dangerous, as vehicles the size and weight of semis can crush other vehicles and their occupants.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, determining whether or not driver error played a role is important. Knowing how often speeding, driver inattention, and steering error cause these types of accidents, it is important to consult with an experienced attorney concerning how to proceed with your case.