Last Updated on January 25, 2024 by Asfa Rasheed
Commercial truck drivers can make a turn on Houston roads but a lot of people do not know how dangerous being near the truck is. In this type of maneuver, a truck driver can cause serious accidents if they fail to properly navigate a turn. Usually, occupants of other vehicles near a turning truck can suffer from long-term injuries like traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, back and spinal injuries, as well as burns. If you are one of these victims, you should contact a houston truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to know the best course of action.
When a truck driver makes a wide turn, they can cause a side impact or head-on collision. In serious cases, they could tip over into several traffic lanes. Truck drivers cause this type of accident due to the following reasons:
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Lack of Experience
For a truck driver to properly make a right or left turn on tight and congested roads, they need skills and experience. Without the necessary experience and proper training, a trucker may cause serious accidents on the road. In this type of accident, the driver and their employer should be held liable for the resulting injuries as they allowed an unqualified trucker to get behind the wheel.
Failure to Check Blind Spots
Commercial trucks have big blind spots on each side, the front, and the rear. Failing to check the blind spots can lead to a truck crushing a smaller vehicle to its side or hitting another head-on.
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Drugs
Both alcohol and drugs can impair a trucker’s ability to make decisions and respond to their surroundings while driving a commercial truck. An intoxicated trucker can have impaired vision, judgment, and driving skills, reducing their ability to make safe turns without putting other road users in danger.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving includes texting on the phone, looking up directions, eating while driving, and doing any activities that take their focus off the road. A trucker who makes a turn while distracted can easily cause an accident.
Fatigue
Truck drivers in Houston who experience significant fatigue can make poor judgments and won’t be able to focus when they navigate a wide turn. Driver fatigue can result from a violation of federal hours of service regulations, general fatigue, or medications taken.
Speeding
Truck drivers who drive a truck beyond the legal speed limit when navigating a turn can misjudge distances. Also, they may not be able to slow down in time, causing a collision.
