Yearly, hundreds of thousands of collision accidents are recorded all over Canada, and a small part of this comes from truck accidents. Though small in numbers, the damages caused by most truck accidents are greater as compared to car and motorcycle accidents.

A possible cause for this is the difference in weight and size between a truck and a car or motorcycle. Because of this, the impact of truck collisions is stronger. Another factor that makes truck accidents worse is that in most cases, trucks carry materials that may cause more car accidents and injury for other people on the road.

If you’ve been in a severe truck accident and you or one of your loved ones has been injured, you should consider hiring an excellent lawyer that can evaluate your case.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

In recent years, the number of commercial trucks on highways has drastically increased. The trucks vary from small trucks like pickup trucks and tow trucks to larger types like mobile cranes, tractor units, and log carriers.

On highways, most vehicles drive at high speeds, and trucks are no exception. When you combine these speeds with the truck’s weight and carelessness from drivers, you will definitely get a disastrous collision accident.

Though natural events cause some truck collisions, many truck accidents on the road can be prevented by being alert, focused, and prepared when driving. To give you an idea of why truck accidents occur, we have listed the most common causes of such accidents.

• Driver Fatigue – This is the most common cause of accidents since all truck drivers experience fatigue. Due to the nature of the job, they’d have to stay awake for more extended periods to travel far distances and with little rest in between. This may be because of the company’s demand to get the goods to a specific location in a short time. Lack of quality sleep and rest results in fatigue, which may cause the driver to lose proper coordination and concentration while driving, and sometimes even fall asleep while driving.
• Distracted Driving – Driving for an extended period will surely make someone bored. Most of the time, truck drivers get bored when transporting goods because they only see roads and vast lands. This gives them the urge to kill boredom by using their phones to answer calls, read messages, or check on their social media. These things are often attributed to distracting drivers leading to accidents.
• Alcohol and Drugs – In many cases that deal with truck accidents, the drivers have been found to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs. It is common for truck drivers to take alcohol during stops, but some take them while driving. When a driver has been intoxicated, he will have impaired coordination and judgment, which results in road accidents.
• Speeding and Overtaking – Truck drivers are often demanded to strictly deliver goods at a particular time and date to avoid the risk of losing their job. This puts them under heavy pressure to reach the destination before the deadline at all costs. When a driver is behind his schedule, his only option is to drive over the speed limit. This reduces the driver’s reaction time, preventing him from applying the brakes immediately and veer in another direction when trying to avoid an accident. Overtaking is common on most roads and highways. However, when trying to overtake large trucks, the overtaker may not see an approaching car immediately due to the truck’s size. This puts the overtaker at risk of colliding with the oncoming vehicle.
• Insufficient Training and Maintenance – Before a driver is allowed to drive a commercial truck on highways, he must first finish all the training and pass requirements set by the regulating body. Sometimes, these drivers don’t comply with these requirements, and what the trucking company gets is a poorly trained truck driver with little to no experience. Before hitting the road, truck drivers must make sure that their truck is in top condition. Yet, some drivers don’t perform proper maintenance since it takes time to complete one and costs a lot. A poorly maintained truck driven by a poorly trained truck driver is a significant cause of truck accidents.
• Improper Cargo Loading – Another cause of road accidents that involve trucks is the improper loading of material on the truck. When the ropes or chains holding the materials in place loosen or get broken, the materials may fall off the truck and cause accidents for the oncoming cars and the ones behind the truck.

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Common Truck Accident Injuries

Due to trucks’ build, the accidents they cause tend to be worse than those caused by cars, motorcycles, and RVs. After a truck accident, there is a high possibility that the victims will suffer injuries that may have long-term effects. 

Here is a list of the most common injuries associated with truck accidents.

• Back and neck injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Head and brain injuries
• Burns
• Amputation and disfigurement
• Internal injuries
• Cuts, bruises, lacerations, and broken bones

Need help with a truck or semi-truck accident claim in Alberta? Talk to a semi-truck accident lawyer today.

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How to Handle Fatal Truck Accidents

Unfortunately, thousands die from truck accidents every year, and if one of your family members dies from one, you can file a wrongful death claim. This claim will help you deal with costs related to the death of your loved one. 

When bills from medical costs associated with the truck accident start to pile up together with the funeral expenses, and other damages, including your pain and suffering, it is time for you to contact a truck accident lawyer. Besides guiding you through your case, he will also help you figure out what you can claim in damages.

CALL A TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYER IN ALBERTA

Speak to a truck accident lawyer from Diamond & Diamond Law now if you got hurt or got involved in a truck accident in Alberta.

Pro Tip

You should always stay calm and focused when driving on highways to prevent being involved in collisions.

– Diamond and Diamond

Schedule a consultation with Diamond and Diamond as soon as you recover from your truck accident injuries. We will guide you and help you through the personal injury claims process in Alberta.

What to Do After a Truck Accident

If you’ve been a victim of a truck accident, the first thing you should do is to seek medical attention immediately. Once the bills start to arrive and you need financial help to cover costs, you should hire a truck accident lawyer to help you get your claims. 

Diamond and Diamond’s personal injury lawyers specialize in vehicular accidents and are experienced in determining future long-term costs related to the severe injuries sustained from the accident. 

Our lawyers know how to handle the trucking companies or the other parties involved and hold them liable for your injuries.