Riverside County Personal Injury Law Blog

California residents who are involved in a truck accident should know that such accidents normally arise for one of five reasons. The first is driver error, and this cuts both ways. In fact, studies show that as much as 81% of all truck crashes involving driver error can be pinned on passenger vehicle drivers, not truckers. It's no secret, though, that truckers, pressed as they are by deadlines. often drive drowsy or speed.

The second common cause is bad weather. If a truck skids, hydroplanes or jackknifes on a wet, icy or snowy road, then the trucker most likely was not trained on proper braking techniques. Third, truckers may neglect the rules that surround vehicle maintenance. They must inspect their rig before every shift. Failing to do this, they only raise the risk for a crash by wearing down their brake pads and other components.

According to data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fatalities resulting from trucking accidents are the highest they've been in 30 years. In 2018, more than 880 occupants of large trucks died in accidents on roadways throughout California and the rest of the United States. A significantly higher number of individuals died as drivers or passengers in other vehicles involved in accidents with large trucks.

The American Trucking Association, which is the industry's largest trade group, says that the data from the NHTSA only gives a partial picture of the problem. Representatives from the association stated that they want the federal government to launch a comprehensive study that provides more useful information about the rate of incidents and their causes. The ATA believes that investing in new technology and driver safety training will go a long way toward reducing the number of fatalities on the road.

California drivers will want to prepare themselves for winter road conditions. Though it may not happen as often as in other states, winter weather will cause the roads to become wet, icy or snowy. With this comes a loss of traction, longer stopping distances and a higher risk for cars spinning out of control.

One of the first things to do, then, is slow down. This may mean even going below the posted speed limit. Drivers should maintain a distance of five to six seconds minimum from the vehicle in front of them. This should be done every season. Drivers will also want to brake sooner and do so gently. When coming to a red light, drivers can try to keep momentum rather than stop completely since accelerating from a stopped position comes with risks.

Most drivers in the U.S. know that drowsy driving is dangerous. Yet 27% of drivers in AAA's 2018 Traffic Safety Culture Index admitted to driving at least once in the past 30 days in such a state that they could hardly keep their eyes open. Drivers in California should know that drowsiness is a factor in some 328,000 crashes every year, nearly a third of which involve injuries. Around 6,400 drowsy driving crashes each year are fatal.

Drivers who think they are not so susceptible to drowsiness behind the wheel may be surprised to see a change in themselves when they set their clocks back one hour for the end of daylight saving time. A disruption of one's sleep schedule means a disruption of the body's circadian rhythm. The effect of this will be clearly felt when one finds it harder to concentrate on the road and react to potential dangers.