For many Americans, the winter season just isn’t complete with festive parties, holiday traditions, family feasts, and exciting gift exchanges. As we draw closer and closer to Christmas and New Year’s Eve, frantic last-minute shoppers are hustling and bustling to complete their to-do lists. Whether you shop online or at brick-and-mortar stores, all the presents, food, and decorations still originate from somewhere else—and it isn’t Santa.
Fleets of commercial motor vehicles are braving the busy highways to deliver essential goods to stores and customers. While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) imposes strict regulations on truck drivers and trucking companies, the demands of the holiday season are often too great to ignore.
Employers are known to push truckers to meet unrealistic deadlines just to make a profit. As a result, many truckers drive while fatigued and rely on stimulants just to stay awake. According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drowsy drivers are twice as likely to cause tragic accidents. When these drivers are operating massive 18-wheelers, the stakes increase exponentially.
Fatigued driving can impact a truck driver’s:
- Judgment
- Alertness
- Focusing ability
- Reaction times
- Decision-making skills
There are more truck accidents in December than any other month. When you’re driving on the road, it’s important to be wary of any vehicles—trucks or otherwise—that are behaving recklessly. If you can, steer clear of these unsafe drivers by distancing yourself away from their vehicles.
Truck collisions occur when drivers participate in these dangerous behaviors:
- Excessively speeding
- Swerving or drifting in and out of lanes
- Tailgating
- Overcorrecting
If you see a truck moving irresponsibly through traffic, it’s important to contact the authorities immediately. Your actions could save a fellow traveler’s life. Sadly, many of these truck drivers have been pushed past the point of safe driving. Trucking companies are hired to deliver massive amounts of throughout the winter season, and sometimes they cut corners and take negligent actions that lead to tragic accidents and fatalities.
Per the FMCSA, trucking companies are responsible for the following:
- Hiring experienced drivers
- Training new and less-experienced drivers
- Inspecting vehicles for safety and scheduling regular maintenance
- Make sure their drivers adhere to the Hours of Service regulations
- Ensuring that cargo is properly packed and secured
Truck accidents frequently occur because trucking companies fail to meet these critical obligations.
Retain Experienced Legal Representation
The holiday season is the worst time to suffer the physical and financial repercussions of a truck accident. If you’re injured by a negligent trucker, contact the Lexington truck accident lawyers at Goeing Goeing & McQuinn PLLC. By investigating your case and negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf, we can help you secure a beneficial settlement or verdict that safeguards your standard of living.
Contact Goeing Goeing & McQuinn PLLC at (859) 253-0088 to schedule a consultation.