Anyone who’s been on the roads has seen semitrucks hauling goods around. These large and heavy vehicles provide a valuable service, but they can also be a considerable risk to the people they share the road with.
Semitrucks that slam into passenger vehicles can cause significant injuries to the occupants of that vehicle. These can include catastrophic injuries, such as spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries. The victims of these crashes may opt to pursue a compensation claim, which requires them to learn the cause of the wreck so they can hold the proper parties accountable. Some possible causes include:
The trucker’s actions
The trucker’s actions are sometimes the cause of the crash. These include actions, such as driving while fatigued or distracted. It can also be due to aggressive driving or failing to follow established traffic laws.
Improperly secured cargo
Cargo that’s not secured properly can shift, which may cause the trucker to lose control of the rig. The cargo may also come off the trailer, which can lead to it becoming a flying projectile or an obstacle in the road.
Lax maintenance or faulty components
Semitruck maintenance and faulty components can mean that the semitruck can’t function properly. Think about how much of a danger it is for a fully loaded big rig to not have the ability to stop because the brakes aren’t working properly.
Victims who opt to pursue a compensation claim should work with someone familiar with these matters. They have a limited amount of time to get the claim filed, so swift action is critical.