Understanding what causes different types of crashes can help drivers prioritize safety measures. They can avoid common hazards and respond more effectively to perilous traffic conditions when they know the top risks.
Semi-truck collisions are especially dangerous for those in smaller vehicles, so limiting the risk of a semi-truck crash is key for ensuring personal safety on the road. When looking at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) assessment of crash causes, the top concerns include drivers making mistakes, recognition issues, problems with a vehicle and driver non-performance.
How common is non-performance?
According to FMCSA statistics, non-performance on the part of a commercial driver is responsible for approximately 12% of all crashes where the larger vehicle is at fault. Non-performance typically falls into two primary categories.
Sometimes, drivers fall asleep at the wheel. Long hours on the road and serious medical conditions can contribute to the risk of a driver dozing off in traffic. Even falling asleep for a few seconds can be enough to cause a crash.
The other type of non-performance involves a medical event. Drivers have strokes, seizures, heart attacks, allergic reactions or other major medical events while in control of a commercial vehicle. They become physically incapable of controlling the vehicle, and that leads to a crash.
In either situation, the people in the smaller vehicle may soon face a relatively complicated insurance claim as they pursue compensation to pay for their medical expenses and property damage losses. Discussing a crash with an experienced commercial truck collision attorney can simplify challenging insurance claims and help those affected by a semi-truck crash hold the right party responsible.