Causes of Truck Accidents in Alabama

In the past year, the number of truck accidents with injuries has increased by 21%, with over 1,800 accidents involving trucks in Alabama in the year of 2024. When a commercial truck is involved in an accident, 86% of the fatalities and 77% of the injuries come from the drivers and passengers that were in the smaller vehicle.

Technology Distractions

With technological advancements in smartphones containing apps that GPS track, entertain you with music and videos, and communicate with people, truck accidents in Alabama are becoming more and more frequent due to the usage of this technology. With smartphones creating constant distractions for truck drivers, truck accidents on highways and streets in Alabama are a continuous occurrence.

Drivers in Alabama think they can multitask, but 25% of truck and car accidents are caused by texting and driving. An estimated 660,000 truck and car drivers use smartphones during daylight hours, leading to about 1.6 million crashes annually. Truck accidents in Alabama are grouped into these statistics, and technology is a common reason for this.

Reckless Driving

Another cause of truck accidents in Alabama stems from reckless or careless driving on highways and streets in Alabama. A larger truck takes a longer time to slow down due to its excessive weight and size. If a truck driver is trying to prevent an accident by slowing down, their chances are a lot less than those of a normal vehicle.

Some reckless driving in Alabama also comes from passing lanes and weaving in and out of traffic. If vehicles were to cut off the front of the truck or tailgate on the back of the truck, it could lead to an accident because trucks have limited ability to slow down and speed up at a fast rate. Which is why reckless driving causes accidents with trucks in Alabama.

Impaired driving or driving under the influence is a different way a truck accident could occur in Alabama. Some truck drivers take medications for their long drives to help them stay awake longer, which can cause symptoms like dizziness and drowsiness when it wears off, leaving them impaired to drive a truck. Also, at night, some people have been drinking alcohol and decided to proceed in driving, leaving them impaired and unable to drive with clarity. This is a big causation in truck accidents and vehicle accidents in general, and is never the right way to drive under any circumstances.

Responsibility and Damage in Truck Accidents

A truck accident can be tricky for a few reasons:
Several parties can be liable
Insurance companies try to minimize your damages
Property is damaged

Some parties that could be held liable during a truck accident in Alabama include the truck driver, the truck driving company, the manufacturer of the truck, maintenance companies, the other driver, or even the government agencies that did not maintain the road properly.

All of this is dependent on the individual truck accident in Alabama, but nonetheless, the truck accident attorneys from McPhillips Shinbaum, LLP can help you solve your truck accident problems.

If you have been injured or your property has been damaged during a truck accident in Alabama, most insurance companies will try to lessen your compensation, but not with our attorneys at McPhillips Shinbaum, LLP. You may be eligible for compensation from injury or damage from your truck accident inclduing medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage, or pain and suffering.

McPhillips Shinbaum is Here to Help

If you or someone you know has been involved in a truck or motor accident in Alabama, contact us today so our professional team can aid you with your truck accident needs.

If you have any questions regarding our work or your truck accident, call our number, and we will be happy to assist you.