‘Tis the Season for a Rise in Truck Accidents
November 17, 2017
Black Friday marks the official beginning of the holiday shopping season. From the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve, shoppers are out in full force, hoping to find the perfect gift for their child, spouse, parent, or colleague. These days, more shoppers tend to purchase their holiday gifts online, which means that there are significantly more trucks on the roads delivering packages. This spike in deliveries coincides with an increase in truck accidents. In fact, during the month of December, there is an increase in freight truck accidents of nearly 10 percent. Many of these accidents can be avoided if you know the dangers and take the steps needed to avoid your risk of a potential crash.
Factors That Cause Increase in Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are more likely to occur during the holiday season for the following reasons:
- Driver fatigue: Tight deadlines, demanding schedules, pressure from employers to break hours-of-service regulations, and other factors, all contribute to driver fatigue. Drowsy driving is responsible for as many as one third of trucking accidents, and this problem only gets worse over the busy holiday season.
- Pressure to meet tight deadlines: The delivery schedules for commercial truck drivers can be grueling during the holiday shopping rush. Drivers are often tempted to speed, avoid taking breaks, and other unsafe shortcuts to meet their deadlines.
- Inclement weather conditions: The weather in late November and December can be unpredictable. In many parts of the country, a truck driver may have to travel through snow, sleet, or freezing rain. This can cause the road conditions to become much more dangerous for all motorists on the road.
- Under-trained drivers: Trucking companies have been known to hire inexperienced drivers to meet the increased demand of the holiday shopping season. This can jeopardize the safety of the truck driver, as well as other motorists in the vicinity.
Steps to Take to Avoid a Truck Accident
You may not be able to control the number of trucks on the road during the holiday season, but there are things you can do to lower the risk of being involved in a devastating wreck.
- Distance yourself from large trucks: Stay as far away from large trucks as possible. Never tailgate or drive right next to a truck because the driver may not be able to see you if you are in their blind spot. It is best to avoid driving directly in front of a truck, directly behind a truck, or next to the truck’s cab.
- Slow down: Speeding is the most common cause of fatal crashes involving large trucks, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Reduce your speed when driving near a truck, particularly if the roads are wet or icy.
Baltimore Truck Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Represent Those Injured in Truck Collisions
If you have been injured in a truck accident, do not hesitate to call the Baltimore truck accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. Injuries from truck accidents can be particularly devastating and we will work tirelessly to secure the maximum financial compensation you deserve. For a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent truck accident victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.
