What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Arizona?

Driving near large trucks can be daunting, particularly on busy highways and interstates. It’s common knowledge that collisions involving these oversized trucks and smaller passenger vehicles can have tragic consequences. Due to discrepancies in their size, weight, and stopping ability, car and truck collisions are often deadly. Thankfully, staying aware of large trucks and knowing some of the most common causes of truck accidents go a long way for prevention.

Furthermore, if you’re a truck driver, it’s important to know how to avoid certain dangers that can lead to truck accidents in Arizona. This is especially true since drivers may be out of work for a prolonged period of time or lose their job as a result of a truck accident.

It’s important to know how to avoid truck accidents. But if you’ve sustained injuries in a truck accident in Arizona, contact the Phoenix accident attorneys at ELG. Our team of truck accident lawyers is here to help you in your time of need. Not all truck accidents can be avoided but staying aware of the common causes of these crashes can help both truck operators and passenger vehicle drivers stay safer.

Can Low Visibility Cause Truck Accidents?

Unfortunately, low visibility can be an issue for truck drivers and cause accidents. Low visibility can lead truckers to start, stop, or switch lanes without noticing the driver of a smaller vehicle. Keep in mind that it is up to truck drivers to check their blind spots. Truck drivers have a responsibility to verify that their intended actions will be safe. Failing to verify their surroundings before taking action on the road can be considered negligence.

However, it’s true that trucks have limited views when hauling trailers as well. When truckers have larger cargo, it can be more challenging for them to stay alert to the areas surrounding their 18-wheeler.

The solution to low visibility is the frequent use of exterior mirrors, keeping aware of changing traffic patterns, using turn signals, and keeping a safe distance. Truckers must also follow all road laws and street signs. Trucking companies can help fight low visibility by equipping their big rigs with backup cameras, sensors, lane departure warnings, and blind-spot warnings.

What Happens When Trucks Have Unsecured Cargo?

Another common cause of 18-wheeler accidents is unsecured cargo. As a passenger vehicle driver, it’s hard to avoid unsecured cargo accidents. But keeping enough space around your vehicle is essential when you’re traveling next to large trucks. You should be avoiding big rigs with unsecured cargo, and luckily, it’s easy to do so. Simply give truck drivers more space on the road. Make sure you always drive at least five seconds behind a truck to give yourself enough time to react.

You can also avoid these accidents by steering clear of truck drivers’ blind spots on the road. Avoid the spaces 20 feet ahead of the truck and 30 feet behind the truck to avoid a driver’s blind spots, and avoid the area adjacent to the driver’s side.

It’s particularly important to stay aware of unsecured cargo because unsecured or cumbersome cargo causes rollover accidents. If a semi-truck driver brakes forcefully or with little warning, they may not stop in time to avoid a collision. Oftentimes, drivers steer away from the roadway or jerk their wheel due to hazards they can’t otherwise avoid, causing a rollover crash. The sudden shift in the momentum of the truck, especially if it’s hauling an unsecured load or too much cargo, can lead to a loss of a center of gravity. As a result, the imbalance will cause a rollover collision.

Truck Accident Attorney in Arizona

Keep this information in mind and you’ll stay safer on the road as a vehicle driver or a trucker. But remember that even the best drivers can’t always avoid truck accidents. If you’re injured or your vehicle is damaged in a truck accident, contact our Phoenix accident attorneys at ELG.

Call our skilled accident lawyers in Arizona at (623) 877-3600 for a free consultation and legal representation today. Whether you’re a truck driver who’s sustained injuries or a passenger car driver, it’s important to seek legal recourse.