The sight of 18-wheelers on the major highways and secondary roads of Louisiana is common. “Big rigs” transporting everything from agricultural products like rice, soybeans, and livestock to oilfield products such as drilling equipment, chemicals, and waste materials travel our roads on a regular basis. While they play a vital role in our economy, their large size and weight also mean that when accidents take place, they can be catastrophic.
Common Causes of 18-Wheeler Wrecks Include:
- Distracted driving: Whether texting, chatting on a cell phone, reaching for something in the passenger seat, eating, or smoking, even a brief lack of focus on driving can increase the risk of accident. And because of the mass of big rigs, they often cannot stop as quickly as a car.
- Getting sleepy or dozing behind the wheel: Drivers operate 18-wheelers for extended periods of time, requiring intense focus on the road. Although federal rules are in place to limit driving time, outside pressures and not enough rest can lead to driver fatigue. When tired, a big rig driver’s reaction time and focus may become impaired leading to a crash.
- Improperly secured and too big of loads: Sometimes loads are placed on trailers incorrectly leading to shifting of the cargo or spill of it off the trailer. Also, there are times when trucks are overloaded, creating unnecessary hazards.
- Inadequate truck and trailer maintenance-With the number of miles that 18-wheelers travel week in and week out, regular maintenance is so important. Neglecting inspections and repairs or doing maintenance incorrectly can lead to major mechanical system failures and result in severe accidents.
- Inexperienced driver or not enough training: Operating 18-wheelers requires specific skills and knowledge. Because these rigs operate completely differently from a pickup truck, car, or SUV, significant training and behind-the-wheel experience is required to become skillful in managing these large vehicles in both rural and urban areas and challenging weather conditions.
Louisiana Roads and Big Rigs
Louisiana is recognized as a state with a significant amount of commercial trucking taking place at any given time. Two major east-west U.S. interstates run through the state including I-10 and I-20. Additional major north-south interstate roads include the I-49 and I-55. On these roads and others throughout the state, big rigs move goods on a 24-hour, 7 day a week basis. Hopefully, you will not but should you ever have a collision with an 18-wheeler, The Law Firm of Eddie Clark & Associates, LLC stands ready to assist you in navigating the aftermath. Having an experienced and helpful team on your side can be just what you need in times of distress.
