Truck accidents can occur in a number of ways in North Carolina, but there are five that are worth pinpointing. The first and leading cause is driver error. Actually, most truck crashes that involve error are the fault of the passenger vehicle driver. The errors can be anything from speeding and aggressive driving to drunk, drowsy and distracted driving.
Lack of maintenance and defective parts
Sometimes, though, truckers can be negligent in one particular area: vehicle maintenance. They are supposed to inspect their trucks before every shift, and if they don’t, they may overlook serious hazards like worn brake pads or cracked windshields. Commercial trucks take a lot of wear and tear each day, so regular maintenance like this can make the difference between life and death.
Third, many trucks crash because of defective equipment. This would not be the trucker’s fault but rather that of the parts manufacturer. Others may be held liable, such as the mechanic who installed the part or the company that sold the truck.
The effect of weather and badly loaded cargo
Truckers should ideally know how to drive on slippery roads, especially considering their longer braking distances, but many do not and so wind up hydroplaning or even jackknifing. Lastly, many tip-overs occur because of improperly loaded cargo. When incorrectly secured, cargo may spill out and harm anyone behind the truck.
Crash victims may seek legal counsel
Truck collisions can leave victims dealing with long-term disabilities, so it’s often in their best interests to seek compensation from the trucking company. This state holds to a pure contributory negligence rule, which means plaintiffs cannot have contributed even 1% to a crash. Otherwise, they collect nothing in damages. To see how your case would fare, you may see a lawyer. The lawyer may prepare your case and negotiate for you as well.
