Truck Accidents Occuring Because of Drivers Reading Maps and Directions
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) crash studies recently revealed that 22 percent of large-truck crashes occur because truck drivers are unfamiliar with the roadways they are traveling. Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers (truck drivers, tractor trailer drivers, etc.) regularly travel to new destinations, so they are often unfamiliar with their surroundings. Driving at night in new areas also adds to difficulties encountered while traveling on untried roads.
FMCSA reports indicate that CMV drivers sometimes read maps or directions while driving in new areas, distracting them from the road and causing large truck crashes on our nation’s highways. FMCSA suggestions for preventing these accidents are to review maps and plan a route before driving, to always use signals while driving, and to be careful while changing lanes and direction of travel.
In three years, roughly 50,000 moving violations were cited as improper lane changes and improper turns. Additionally, about 630,000 motor vehicle accidents occur because of lane-changes every year. Many of these accidents cause severely injure and even kill innocent motorists and passengers. Many times, these violations can be used to prove fault on part of the tractor trailer driver and the trucking company. An experienced Missouri truck accident lawyer will know exactly how to uncover the violations for a truck company and its drivers.
Often times, simply missing an exit or passing up the right turn will end up causing an accident when a driver tries to overcompensate and correct for a missed turn. All drivers have a duty to exercise reasonable care while driving, despite unfamiliarity with road conditions. Cautious driving will ultimately prevent many accidents, but if you or a loved one has been injured by truck driver’s negligence, it is important to obtain an experienced truck crash lawyer.
The skilled St. Louis truck accident attorneys at Page Cagle, A Missouri Personal Injury Law Firm, are aggressive and experienced at handling truck accidents that result in serious injury and death. For a free consultation call 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). You can also email me John Page, a partner at Page Cagle, at john@pagecagle.com for more information.
