When a semi truck collision in Louisiana results in serious injury or death, a police investigation will typically be undertaken to determine the cause. In many cases, the lawyers for victims or their families will also undertake their own investigations. These investigations often reveal the cause of the wreck to be truck driver negligence, unsafe policies of the truck company or negligent truck maintenance.
Truck drivers, although professionals, can be negligent when driving. Speeding, failing to yield the right of way and unsafe lane changes are among the negligent driving behaviors that can lead to a catastrophic wreck. In addition, many truckers drive for long hours, sometimes in violation of federal hours of service regulations. This leads to truck driver fatigue, a leading cause of semi truck accidents.
Truck company policies can also lead to an accident. Many companies push their drivers to meet tight or unrealistic schedules, causing them to speed, cut corners on inspection and maintenance and drive past the point of exhaustion.
Finally, commercial trucks put in a lot of miles and are subject to a great deal of wear and tear on the road. Regular inspections and maintenance are essential to keeping the truck safe. Lights, brake systems, tires and other equipment must be in safe working order or the result can be disastrous.
Investigating a semi truck crash requires knowledge of federal and state trucking regulations, the rules governing trucking logs and hours of service and maintenance and inspection requirements. If the investigation uncovers negligence on the part of the truck company or driver, victims and families have the right to recover monetary compensation for their losses.
Source: unsafetrucks.org, “Common Causes of Truck Accidents,” accessed Feb. 14, 2016