Unfortunately, accidents involving 18-wheelers are very common in Mississippi. In fact, just a couple weeks ago a fatal 18-wheeler crash occurred in Chickasaw County. According to djournal.com, the accident happened on Highway 32 between Van Vleet and Okolona and involved an 18-wheeler and an ambulance colliding head-on. Sadly, the ambulance driver was killed and an EMS passenger was seriously injured. The cause of the accident is currently unknown but the Mississippi Highway Patrol reconstruction team is conducting an investigation.
While the cause of this particular accident is unknown, crashes involving 18-wheelers are often caused by some sort of negligence. When this is the case, victims who are injured can generally recover compensation for their injuries by filing a personal injury lawsuit.
What Commonly Causes 18-Wheeler Accidents?
Distracted Driving: Distracted driving, on the part of both truckers and other drivers on the road, is responsible for causing many of the 18-wheeler accidents that we see in Mississippi each year. Distracted driving comes in many forms but often involves a driver who is texting, talking on their phone, or fiddling with the radio or GPS when they should be paying attention to the road.
Irresponsible Driving: Examples of irresponsible driving include:
- Breaking “minor” traffic laws (by speeding, tailgating, failing to use turn signals, etc.),
- Truck drivers utilizing improper breaking procedures,
- Driving in an 18-wheeler that has been not properly maintained, and
- Truck drivers attempting to keep up with unrealistic scheduling expectations by driving while tired and/or speeding.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Unfortunately, a great deal of 18-wheeler accidents are caused by drivers who choose to operate their vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Be aware that even a relatively small amount of a mind-altering substance (even one prescribed by a doctor) can significantly reduce a driver’s ability to react quickly and that this slowed response time frequently causes accidents.
Improper Loading: 18-wheelers often carry very heavy cargo, and if this cargo is improperly loaded into the truck it may cause a weight and balance issue when the truck is on the highway. This may not sound like a big deal, but weight and balance issues are very serious as they can cause a semi-truck to jackknife or become difficult for the driver to maneuver.
Road Rage: Road rage and aggressive driving is common these days, especially when an impatient driver gets “stuck” behind a slow moving semi-truck. When this happens, some drivers make the mistake of tailgating the truck or cutting off other drivers when attempting to pass 18-wheeler. This type of road rage is reckless and extremely dangerous.
Have You Been Injured in an 18-Wheeler Accident? Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney
If you or someone you know has been injured in an 18-wheeler accident and would like to discuss your legal rights, contact truck accident attorney Derek L. Hall today. Our firm handles a wide variety of personal injury lawsuits and frequently represents clients who have been injured in accidents throughout the Jackson area. If you would like our help, give our office a call today at (601) 768-8267 or fill out our online contact form.
