Common Causes of Truck Accidents and Who Is Liable

In 2024, Georgia reached an unfortunate new high in truck collisions at 8,603 crashes resulting in over 3,000 injuries and 175 deaths. As these numbers grow, people want to know who is responsible for these accidents and how people can put their lives back together after an accident.

Georgia is not alone in this rising trend, as commercial truck accident statistics show a nationwide increase in the number of crashes. As a result, the Federal government has launched a new study looking into the causes of truck accidents.

While the Federal study will look at data compiled from state and local governments, experienced truck accident lawyers at My 25% Lawyer can provide insights into some of the common causes and who is responsible for semi wrecks and other trucking accidents.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Given the size of trucks themselves and the industry they participate in, there’s a broad array of potential causes behind truck accidents. When crashes do occur, they most frequently are between the truck and another vehicle on the road.

Trucks colliding into fixed objects, hitting pedestrians, and roll-overs are also some of the top “first harmful events” or where the first collision occurred. But the cause of these accidents is often moments, minutes, or perhaps even months before the collision occurred.

Trucks Crossing Over Lane Lines Is a Top Cause

According to the most recent federal study into semi wrecks and truck crashes, just under a third of crashes were caused by a truck driver crossing into another lane or leaving the roadway. This could be as a result of pulling over, improperly merging, or changing lanes.

Truckers Losing Control Causes Accidents

Another leading cause of truck accidents is a truck driver that loses control of their vehicle. When a driver goes too fast for the conditions, or attempts to overcorrect, they can lose control of the truck causing it to collide with other vehicles, pedestrians, or bikes on the road.

Other Drivers Can Cause Crashes

Truck drivers can also collide with motor vehicles that cross into their lanes. A driver that misjudges a truck’s speed and pulls out into the road can collide with a truck. Or a driver that fails to see a truck in their blind spot could be the start of a multi-car crash.

Turning Trucks Can Be Hazardous

When trucks turn or cross an intersection, there can be collisions with other cars. The driver may turn onto a roadway from a parking lot or side street and not notice cars already in the road. Or at an intersection another vehicle may attempt an unsafe turn while the truck proceeds through the intersection and hits them.

Pedestrians, Cyclists, and Other Non-Motorists Can Lead to Accidents

Trucks may collide or attempt to avoid other people on the roads that create collisions. It’s rarer than the other common causes, but still cracks the top five for most common causes of truck accidents.

Who Is Liable For Truck Accidents?

In a truck accident lawsuit, the person liable for the accident is typically the party that was negligent in their actions or failure to act. This varies from case to case. It may be that another driver was negligent and caused the truck to hit them and then into another innocent victim. It may also be the case that multiple parties were negligent causing the accident.

When the truck was the last party that could have avoided the crash, the liability typically falls on the driver, though the vehicle manufacturer, or company may all share the responsibility. When the driver is at fault some common reasons for the crash include a poor decision, a failure to recognize something they should have, a failure to perform, the vehicle itself, or poor performance.

1. In 38% of crashes where the truck was at fault, the underlying reason was a decision the driver made. That could include following too closely, misjudging another vehicle’s speed, or making a wrong assumption about another driver’s intentions.
2. A truck driver that fails to recognize the situation for the danger it posed was behind 28% of crashes where the truck was at fault. They may have been distracted or simply not paying attention.
3. Over 1 in 10 crashes with at-fault trucks are the result of truck drivers falling asleep behind the wheel, suffering a medical emergency or becoming physically unable to drive.
4. The vehicle can also be the ultimate source of the collision. Faulty brakes, a blown tire, or cargo shifting unexpectedly on the truck can cause collisions with other vehicles.
5. While it’s more common that a driver fails to perform entirely, there can be situations where their attempted performance is so inadequate that it causes a collision.

Trucking Companies May Be Liable Too

When the truck is the ultimate cause of the crash, it doesn’t always mean that the truck driver is the sole source of responsibility. In Georgia, employers can be held responsible for the conduct of their employees. So even if the driver was at fault, the company may be the one brought to court for compensation.

There may also be more direct liability for the employer. Even if the driver wasn’t necessarily negligent, if the company was negligent in their vetting and hiring process it may be held directly responsible. Failing to examine a driver’s record, including citations, DUIs, and arrests could indicate that the company was negligent.

Find Hope After Semi Wrecks

When a truck accident upends you or a loved one’s life, getting justice means holding the at-fault parties responsible. At My 25% Lawyer we help our clients pursue the compensation they deserve and make sure they’re able to put more in their pockets than the other firms.