Causes of Truck Accidents in Omaha

Large commercial vehicle accidents are a regular occurrence on Nebraska’s roads and highways. Data from the Nebraska Trucking Association cites that trucks are responsible for stocking 100% of Nebraska’s retail stores, 76% of all manufactured freight to and from the state, as well as employ one out of every 11 Nebraska workers.

Though trucking is an important part of Nebraska’s economy, big rigs have a tendency to be involved in dangerous traffic accidents which can cause a severe amount of death and destruction. 2009 Crash data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports a total of 11,815,207 large trucks and buses registered in the United States. The same year, 60,000 crashes resulted in injury to vehicle occupants and 93,000 people were injured from these incidents.

Were you or a loved one injured in a truck accident in Nebraska? If so, you may be entitled to compensation that can help cover medical expenses and the pain and suffering you experienced as a result of the crash.

At Inkelaar Law, our highly-skilled Omaha truck accident attorneys believe the victims of truck accidents have the right to intelligent and compassionate representation in court, which is why we will always fight for the MAXIMUM amount of compensation due to our clients.

Causes of Truck Crashes

Due to their large size and awkward shape, trucks are more likely to be involved in accidents because it is difficult for their drivers to stop in time or maneuver away from an oncoming crash. Weighing over 10,000 pounds, a commercial truck is very often going to cause major damage and injury to the occupants of the other vehicle it collides with.

The following are some of the most common causes of trucking accidents:

  • Aggressive driving
  • Distracted driver
  • Driver fatigue
  • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Failure to obey traffic signs and signals
  • Failure to yield
  • Improper or poor vehicle maintenance
  • Inexperienced or untrained drivers
  • Overloaded truck
  • Speeding
  • Truck driver ventures away from planned route
  • Unfamiliar roads
  • Unsecured loads
  • Vehicle failure
  • …to name a few.

In some cases, truck drivers will not have completed enough hours of training to have a thorough understanding of their vehicle. When an accident is about the take place, it is very difficult for the truck driver to stop short or swerve to avoid it. This can cause a truck to jackknife or rollover because of its high center of gravity, which in turn can create vehicle fires and more destruction to the truck, its driver, and other vehicles involved.

How to Avoid a Nebraska Trucking Accident

The Nebraska Trucking Association recommends a few basic precautions to ensure the safety of truckers and motor vehicle drivers while they share the road. Keeping the following tips in mind will help protect the lives of Nebraska motorists and truck drivers:

  • Stay out of the truck’s “No-Zone,” or blind spot
    • Remember that this does not just refer to the side blind spots, but to front and rear as well. If you can’t see the trucker’s mirrors, they cannot see you.
  • Signal well in advance of lane changes
  • Never try to pass while a truck is turning
  • Give adequate space when following— do not tailgate
  • Stay focused on the road and do not text or use a cell phone
  • Wear your seatbelt
  • Merge properly— do not force a truck to slam on its breaks

These tips can help keep truckers and drivers aware of each other’s presence on Nebraska’s roadways, and eliminate unnecessary traffic accidents from occurring. Although the FMCSA has strict regulations regarding safety procedures and the state of a carrier’s rig, these are not always adhered to, so it is important that truckers take responsibility for their own vehicle and exercise prudent caution as they travel across the state and country.

Contact Our Truck Accident Law Firm Today

At Inkelaar Law, our attorneys have the experience handling truck accident cases and we will use our expertise and commitment to get you a fair verdict or settlement in order to achieve the MAXIMUM compensation benefits available.

Our attorneys all operate on a contingency fee basis, which means that we will not charge you anything for our services unless we achieve a successful verdict or settlement and you recover for your losses and damages.

Being headquartered in both Omaha and Lincoln, we are able to provide services throughout the state of Nebraska.

A few local areas we serve include:

  • Auburn
  • Belleview
  • Blair
  • Columbus
  • Freemont
  • Lincoln
  • …along with most of the suburbs surrounding these areas.