Buford is a city in southern Georgia and is considered a part of two counties – Gwinnett and Hall. It has a population of more than 17,000 people and was home to a strong leather industry.
It is now a bustling city close to the state capital, Atlanta. However, like all cities, it has its challenges and is not free of accidents.
If you find yourself in a truck accident here, you should contact a Buford, GA, truck accident attorney to file a truck accident claim because the medical bills and other costs from accidents can be difficult to manage on your own.
Before that, you should know the top 5 causes of truck accidents so that you can find measures to prevent them.
Causes of Truck Accidents
There are a number of factors that can contribute to truck accidents, ranging from the weather to drunk driving. Here are five of them:
1. Driver Fatigue
Truck drivers are often pushed to meet unreasonable deadlines set by trucking companies and are forced to lose sleep.
While the federal government imposes an hours-of-service limit requiring truck drivers to get enough rest, many drivers skirt these regulations to keep their jobs.
When drivers fail to get enough sleep or spend many hours on the road, it can increase their chances of getting in an accident.
Multiple studies have shown that tiredness can cause drivers to fall asleep at the wheel or slow their reaction time.
2. Distracted Driving
Vehicles today come equipped with the latest gadgets and have access to the internet, which can be very distracting on the road.
Truck drivers must be vigilant, as their vehicles’ sheer size and weight alone can double the damage in an accident.
Distracted driving is listed as a leading cause of accidents, as it prevents drivers from responding quickly to obstacles or changes on the road.
3. Drug and Alcohol Use
Many accidents involving trucks are due to substance abuse. It is a huge problem in the United States. Being under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other substances can impair a driver’s ability to navigate the highway, and they can make errors that lead to bad accidents.
Drivers could end up driving too fast, switching lanes abruptly, or misjudging distances when they’re impaired, leading to collisions.
Trucks are often loaded with several tons of cargo, meaning they have to be maneuvered correctly, or they can topple.
4. Mechanical Failure
Due to how frequently they’re used, the parts of a truck can face a lot of friction and wear down quickly. This is why it’s essential to have regular maintenance checks and replace any damaged parts.
Failing to do so could result in an accident on the road. A tire could burst, or the brakes could fail, causing your truck to crash.
5. Speeding
Finally, speeding also contributes to truck accidents. Trucks are big machines with heavy cargo and must be driven cautiously.
Exceeding the speed limit means all that weight can turn into a weapon and flatten anything in its path in an accident.
Driving over the speed limit in bad weather can result in the driver losing control over the vehicle. It could also prevent the truck from stopping in time.
