The Washington Metropolitan area is dominated by Interstate 95, the Beltway, and countless feeder highways which surge traffic right through our cities. For most of us, the daily commute involves contact not only with lots of traffic, but lots of dangerous traffic. Contributing to that danger are the thousands of tractor trailers that haul goods up and down the east coast.

Trucking accidents involve large tractors and trailers with a combined weight of up to 40 tons. Trucking accidents are more common than you might think. Almost half a million trucking accidents occur every year in the United States; about one percent of those accidents result in fatalities. While the drivers of big rigs usually escape death or serious injury in these accidents due to the protection they receive from their large vehicles,  over ten percent of traffic fatalities are the result of trucking accidents. Sadly, it is usually the pedestrians and drivers and passengers of the smaller vehicles that are killed in these accidents. This is not surprising given that the average passenger vehicle only weighs about five thousand pounds, only a fraction of the weight of a fully loaded tractor trailer.

Due to the danger to others, it is vitally important that truck drivers and their employers strictly adhere to proper accident prevention measures. Shockingly enough, they don’t always do so. Some of the most common causes of commercial trucking accidents which result in injuries to innocent pedestrians and automobile drivers are:

Speed. Drivers are driving too fast and failing to follow safety procedures. Truck drivers want to get home as soon as possible, but maneuvering, stopping, or even simply controlling a 40 ton vehicle is difficult enough at the speed limit. When a truck is violating the speed limit, it can become almost impossible.

DUI. Would you believe that some drivers of tractor trailers are actually operating these giant vehicles while under the influence of drugs and alcohol?

Maintenance. The trucks are not properly maintained. Despite federal trucking safety enforcement, some trucks are operating with defective parts, expired breaks, malfunctioning or broken headlights, turn signals and taillights, and balding tires.

Lack of sleep. Truck drivers are asked to drive for too long. In particular, when trucks are shipping perishable goods, the drivers must drive long hours in order to assure that the goods are delivered without spoiling. This results in the drivers getting tired and failing to stay alert.

Improper loads and over loads. For a number of reasons, trucking companies and truck drivers allow their vehicles to be over loaded. Over loading contributes to control problems in tractor trailers. Even trucks which are not overloaded can be loaded incorrectly. An incorrectly loaded truck can be just as dangerous as an overloaded truck, especially while the vehicle is turning sharply, changing lanes, and stopping short.

Failure to yield the right of way. Familiarity breeds contempt. Truckers drive for years and they forget how dangerous their vehicles can be to others. Swerving in and out of traffic, changing speeds, and changing lanes for a truck driver seem easy due to the size and intimidating nature of the tractor trailer. However, when a truck driver gets too comfortable and fails to yield the right of way, the result can be extremely dangerous to others.

Unskilled drivers. Undoubtedly there are a number of extremely competent, safe, and experienced truck drivers. However, these drivers come with the highest price tags. In order to keep costs down, truck companies don’t always have the ability to hire the best. Consequently, drivers who are willing to work for less are out there on our highways driving every day. Some drivers are not even licensed.