California’s roads and highways are always busy with thousands of commercial trucks. Unfortunately, the size and weight of these vehicles mean that when something goes wrong during transit, the results are often catastrophic. Many truck accidents in Northern California are caused not by passenger vehicles but by mistakes made by truck drivers or trucking companies, which makes being in an accident all the more frustrating.
What are the most common causes of truck accidents in California, though? Knowing the answer may help clarify where liability falls and why truck accident survivors deserve compensation for the harm they suffer.
Truck Driver Fatigue
Truck drivers often face long hours on the road, sometimes pressured to meet unrealistic delivery deadlines. Even though federal regulations limit the number of hours a driver can operate without rest, violations are common.
Truck driver fatigue can:
- Slow reaction times
- Dull focus
- Increases the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel
On major highways like Interstate 5 through Redding and Highway 99 through Chico, a tired truck driver can cause devastating multi-vehicle crashes in just seconds.
Improper Truck Maintenance
Trucking companies are legally required to maintain their fleets in safe working order. This requirement includes regular inspections, repairs, and compliance with safety standards. However, in the rush to keep trucks on the road and maximize profit, corners are sometimes cut.
When brakes fail, tires blow out, or steering mechanisms malfunction, the results can be catastrophic. Truck maintenance failures should be preventable and often trace back to the trucking company’s negligence.
Overloaded or Improperly Secured Cargo
Every truck has weight and load distribution limits. When trucking companies ignore these limits or when cargo is not secured properly, the risk of an accident can skyrocket.
An overloaded truck is harder to stop, especially on downhill stretches of I-5 near Redding. Improperly secured cargo can shift during transit, throwing the truck off balance and leading to rollovers or jackknife accidents. In either case, the root cause often lies with the trucking company’s failure to enforce safe loading practices.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
Truck drivers are under constant pressure to meet deadlines, which sometimes leads to speeding and reckless driving. When an 80,000-pound truck is traveling too fast, it becomes nearly impossible to stop in time to avoid a collision if traffic slows unexpectedly.
Speeding is particularly dangerous on highways like Highway 99 through Chico, where frequent traffic congestion calls for extra caution. When truck drivers push the limits of safety, they endanger everyone on the road.
Inadequate Driver Training
Operating a commercial truck requires specialized training and licensing. Unfortunately, some trucking companies cut costs by failing to properly train new drivers or by putting inexperienced drivers on the road too soon.
Poorly trained drivers may not know how to:
- Handle emergency situations
- Secure cargo
- Manage their trucks on a steep grade
In Northern California, where highways sometimes include mountainous terrain and high-traffic corridors, the risks of inadequate training are amplified.
Distracted Driving
Truck drivers spend countless hours on the road, and the temptation to multitask to avoid boredom or a sense of monotony can be strong. Texting, checking GPS devices, or even eating while driving can distract a driver at the worst possible moment. Because of the sheer size of commercial trucks, even a few seconds of inattention can lead to devastating accidents.
Substance Use
While strict rules regulate alcohol and drug use in the trucking industry, violations still occur. Truck drivers may turn to stimulants to stay awake or other substances to cope with long hours and stress.
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol impairs judgment, reaction time, and coordination, dramatically increasing the likelihood of a serious accident. In these cases, both the driver and the trucking company may bear liability if oversight and enforcement were lacking.
Holding Trucking Companies Accountable for Negligence
Truck accidents are rarely simple. They often involve multiple parties, including the driver, the trucking company, cargo loaders, and sometimes third-party maintenance providers. What many victims don’t realize is that trucking companies can sometimes be held responsible for the actions of their drivers, especially when the company created or tolerated unsafe conditions.
Investigating a truck accident often requires examining driver logs, maintenance records, black box data, and company safety policies. Such details can reveal whether a crash was caused by individual negligence or systemic problems within the company.
Talk to Our Truck Accident Lawyers Today
With decades of combined experience focused solely on personal injury cases, the Law Offices of Larry S. Buckley is known throughout Northern California for being a strong legal ally for the wrongfully injured. Our attorneys and support staff know how to uncover the truth behind truck accidents and hold negligent trucking companies accountable. We proudly represent clients across Northern California, including Redding, Chico, and surrounding areas, and our team is available 24/7 to answer your questions. If you need our help, reach out today.
Ask for a free consultation with our truck accident lawyers by calling (530) 413-0245 now.