July 26, 2016 | truck accident
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Large Truck Crash Causation Study[1] reviewed 141,000 large truck injury and fatal crashes that occurred during the study period. The study sets forth several different types of driver error that result in truck collisions including:
Driver Fatigue Causing Indianapolis Trucking Accidents
Fatigue leads truck drivers to fall asleep, be inattentive, misjudge gaps, ignore the signs of impending dangers, panic, freeze, and under- or overreact to a situation. The
FMCSA study provides that fatigue accounted for 13% of the collisions, including 18,000 large trucks
Indianapolis Hours of Service Rules
Federal regulations (called the “hours of service rules”) set forth rules to ensure that truck drivers obtain the necessary rest and restorative sleep in order to drive safely. Under these rules, truck drivers can work a maximum of 14 hours per day, during which time they can only drive for a maximum of 11 hours. The driver must be off duty for 10 consecutive hours prior to the start of a shift. The driver also cannot drive after being on duty for 60 hours in seven consecutive days or 70 hours in eight consecutive days. The study by FMCSA reports that pressure to continue working from the carrier accounted fro 10% of the large truck accidents involving 16,000 commercial trucks.
Drug Use by Truck Drivers Traveling Through Indianapolis
The FMCSA study provides that truck driver’s use of illegal drugs accounted for 2% of the total accidents or 3,000 trucks while over-the-counter drug usage accounted for 17% of the collisions or 25,000 trucks.
Drivers may not use any controlled substances unless prescribed by a licensed physician who is familiar with the driver’s medical history and assigned duties and has determined that the drug use will not adversely affect the driver’s ability to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle. Federal regulations require trucking companies to:
1) test their drivers for alcohol and drug use as a condition of employment, and
2) require periodic random tests of the drivers while they are on duty and after an accident involving a fatality.
Indianapolis Truck Accidents Resulting from Other Causes
Although in many trucking accidents the blame is placed on the truck driver, there are a number of actions exhibited by other vehicle drivers that can result in an accident. Causes of these incidents include numerous factors such as:
-Passenger vehicle driver positions their vehicle in any one of a truck’s numerous blind spots making it impossible for the truck driver to see them.
-Improper merging, cutting trucks off and risky passing without enough room.
-Driving too close to a big truck puts other drivers at risk for an accident in the event that some kind of problem develops with the truck. An important benefit of traveling at a safe distance away from heavy trucks on the highway is drivers are also out of their way should a mechanical problem arise.
Contact an Indianapolis Truck Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one were involved in an accident with a large truck, you likely sustained many serious injuries and maybe even life changing disabilities. At the Fountain Law Firm, P.C., our team of experienced truck accident lawyers have successfully helped many truck accident victims obtain the compensation they deserve for their injuries and related losses. To make sure that you receive all of the compensation to which you are entitled, it is important to have an experienced truck accident attorney handling your case. Lawyer Merry Fountain is ready to help you today by meeting in her office or, if you are not able to travel, by meeting in your home. Call Merry Fountain anytime at 1-888-242-HURT (4878) for a free consultation.
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