When you are involved in an accident with a truck, it’s natural to believe the truck driver made a mistake that led to it. However, this is not always the case. Another party’s negligence may have contributed to the accident. One of those parties is the truck driver’s employer.
A trucking company may make certain decisions that can cause a crash. Here is how this can happen:
Poor training
Poor training is a major concern in the trucking industry. Some trucking companies fail to properly train drivers or rush through training programs. Thus, the chances of you being around a driver not skilled to handle a truck on a mountainous road, manage cargo or navigate through different traffic situations can be high.
The common reasons behind poor training in the industry include quickly hiring drivers to meet demand and minimizing expenses. A poorly trained truck driver might make a mistake that can cause a serious accident.
Pressure from the company
Some trucking companies impose unrealistic delivery deadlines on drivers, which encourage them to speed or engage in other aggressive behaviors on the road. A company may also push drivers to work beyond their work hours or during breaks to meet demand.
An exhausted driver may fall asleep while driving. Besides, being exhausted can reduce a driver’s concentration, resulting in slow reaction times – they may take too long to notice or respond to a hazard on the road.
Poor maintenance
Failing to maintain its trucks is another way a trucking company may contribute to an accident. A poorly maintained truck can have dangerous elements, such as faulty brakes, defective safety equipment, improperly inflated tires, improperly functioning lights, a bad horn and so on.
If you are hit by a truck, it’s vital to obtain more information about the accident to know whose negligence caused it and, in turn, seek just compensation from them.