7 Top Causes of 18 Wheeler Truck Accidents on I-55 in Memphis, TN

Interstate 55 (I-55) in Memphis, Tennessee, is a vital transportation route for both commercial and passenger vehicles. The highway handles an enormous amount of trucking traffic, serving as a major artery for moving freight between the Southern U.S. and the Midwest.

That heavy truck presence, however, makes the interstate much more accident-prone. When there is an accident on I-55, it tends to involve a big truck, and it also tends to be a serious accident.

Truck accident lawyers know what makes these accidents likely, what happens when they do occur, and what victims can do to seek compensation. With that in mind, here are the 7 top causes of 18 wheeler truck accidents on I-55 in Memphis, TN:

1. Driver Fatigue

Long hours are far too often the norm for truck drivers who must meet tight pickup schedules and delivery deadlines. Regulating the number of hours in a driver’s workday has served as a well-established method of ensuring the safety of these drivers and the people who share the roads with them.

Despite this however, many driver and trucking advocates argue that the rules are outdated, too strict, or just plain not workable. This can many times lead to drivers and trucking companies skirting those rules and looking for ways to work around them. When truckers operate their vehicle while drowsy, the people who share the road with them are placed in harm’s way.

1. Speeding and Reckless Driving

Our nonstop society pushes people to meet deadlines. But what happens when those deadline-driven folks are behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler? Reckless driving happens when truckers are trying to meet the pressure of deadlines and begin to drive unsafely.

The push to meet these time crunches often leads to truckers violating the speed limit, especially in areas where any congestion has cleared. When an 18-wheeler speeds, it takes longer to stop and is less controllable when changes in the road demand an immediate response.

1. Distracted Driving

Driving while distracted is one of the main reasons that all kinds of vehicle accidents happen, and truck operators are not exempt from this problem. They might keep themselves occupied with cell phones, changing the settings on their GPS devices, consuming meals, or even looking at their phone.

No lapse in concentration is safe when steering a vehicular behemoth that can reach up to 80,000 pounds in weight. This is something that should never be one of the 7 top causes of 18 wheeler truck accidents on I-55 in Memphis, TN, as it is completely avoidable by simply paying attention to the road.

1. Poor Vehicle Maintenance

It is the responsibility of the trucking firms and their operators to ensure that their vehicles are in a safe and working condition. Yet, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that many large trucks and buses have safety-related defects and that some of these companies have been known to cut corners. Mechanical and safety problems in large trucks can, and do, cause horrific highway accidents.

1. Adverse Weather Conditions

The truck drivers in Memphis face all kinds of weather when they are on the road. They encounter heavy rain, and they sometimes even get ice, in the winter months. Poor weather has a direct negative effect on a truck driver’s ability to perform the three key functions of driving: stopping, steering, and maintaining control of the vehicle.

When truck drivers do not compensate for these conditions, the danger to them and everyone else on the road multiplies.

1. Improper Loading of Cargo

An 18-wheeler can become unstable when overloaded or when the cargo is improperly balanced. This instability can increase the chance of the truck rolling over or losing its cargo during transit. Unsecured cargo can shift around unexpectedly and cause driver control problems.

1. Driving Under the Influence

Even though there are stringent drug and alcohol regulations for commercial truck drivers, some of these individuals still drive while impaired by substances. This impairment blurs the required human faculties that allow us to control vehicles and make safe, quick decisions when road conditions change.

When a truck driver is impaired by drugs or alcohol and is on a highway like I-55, the risk of a disastrous highway crash goes way up.

If You Are a Victim of One of the 7 Top Causes of 18 Wheeler Truck Accidents on I-55 in Memphis, TN, Contact a Personal Injury Specialist ASAP

Extensive big rig traffic is a serious issue in Memphis, with the potential to cause catastrophe for anyone involved in an accident. These massive vehicles, when not operated safely, can and do inflict terrible consequences on the people they collide with. Although the causes of these accidents are often similar to those of passenger vehicle accidents, the damage is greatly amplified by the size and weight of 18-wheelers.