Truck Driver Error is the Leading Cause of Semi Truck Accidents

Like any type of traffic accident, there can be many different causes of accidents that involve at least one large commercial truck, such as a semi or another type of tractor-trailer. However, a study published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) indicates that the number one, most common cause of truck accidents is an error on the part of the truck driver.

Driving a large commercial truck is not a simple task. These vehicles are heavy and difficult to maneuver, especially when surrounded by smaller vehicles that may be hard to see. For this reason, truck drivers must go through specialized training and testing to even receive a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Once licensed, they are held to a high standard of care and many laws that are stricter than those for regular drivers. For example, the speed limit for trucks is often lower than for cars and the legal limit for alcohol is significantly lower (0.04 percent) than the limit for non-commercial drivers (0.08 percent).

When truck drivers breach their duty of care and cause truck accidents, they can be deemed negligent and can be held liable for the losses incurred by truck victims.