What Causes Truck Accidents on Louisiana Roads?

Accidents involving tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles are often very different from ordinary car accidents.

A fully loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 pounds—roughly twenty times the weight of an average passenger vehicle. Because of that size and weight difference, even relatively minor mistakes can have devastating consequences.

Over the years, we have seen several common factors contribute to serious Louisiana truck accidents.

‍

‍

Following Too Closely

The weight of a commercial truck matters because it directly affects stopping distance.

While the average passenger vehicle traveling at highway speeds may require roughly the length of a football field to come to a complete stop, a fully loaded tractor-trailer can require significantly more distance under the same conditions.

When a truck driver follows another vehicle too closely, there may simply not be enough time or distance to avoid a collision when traffic slows unexpectedly.

In some truck accident cases, we work with crash reconstruction experts to help determine whether a driver maintained an appropriate following distance and whether that failure contributed to the collision.

Distracted Driving

Commercial truck drivers are no less susceptible to distraction than anyone else on the road.

Cell phones, GPS systems, dispatch communications, paperwork, food, drinks, and conversations with passengers can all take a driver's attention away from the roadway at the worst possible moment.

During the investigation of a truck accident claim, it is common to review police reports, witness statements, electronic data, and other evidence to determine whether distraction may have played a role in the crash.

Driver Fatigue and Drowsy Driving

Fatigue remains one of the most significant safety concerns in the trucking industry.

Federal regulations limit the number of hours that commercial drivers may operate before taking mandatory breaks or periods of rest. These "hours of service" rules were designed specifically to reduce fatigue-related crashes.

Unfortunately, fatigue-related accidents still occur.

In serious truck accident cases, it is common to obtain driving logs, electronic logging device data, fuel receipts, dispatch records, and other records that may help establish whether a driver complied with applicable safety regulations.

Alcohol and Drug Use

Commercial truck drivers are held to strict standards regarding alcohol and drug use, and federal regulations often require post-accident testing in certain situations.

When impairment is suspected, preserving evidence quickly can become extremely important.

Evidence such as toxicology results, police reports, witness statements, and dash camera footage may play an important role in determining what happened and who may be responsible.

Louisiana law may allow additional damages in certain intoxicated driving cases involving particularly reckless conduct, making a thorough investigation especially important in those situations.

Truck Accident Investigations Are Different

Unlike many ordinary car accidents, commercial truck accidents often involve multiple parties, including the driver, the trucking company, maintenance providers, cargo companies, and several insurance carriers.

Important evidence such as electronic control module data, driver qualification files, maintenance records, and inspection reports may also need to be preserved quickly.

For that reason, early investigation is often critical after a serious truck accident.

Have You Been Injured in a Truck Accident?

If you or a family member has been injured in a commercial truck accident, 18-wheeler collision, or tractor-trailer crash, we would be happy to answer your questions and discuss your options during a free consultation.

Call our office at 985-590-6182 to learn more.

We represent clients throughout St. Tammany Parish, Tangipahoa Parish, Washington Parish, and communities across the Northshore including Covington, Mandeville, Slidell, Hammond, and Madisonville.