As a motorist in Kentucky, you have probably noticed that you share the roadways with 18 wheelers, tractor-trailers and other large commercial vehicles, all of which have the capacity to cause serious injuries to you and other drivers. There are a variety of reasons that these large trucks crash, and while some are more frequent than others, knowing what they are may help you avoid injury while driving on Kentucky roads.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2018, there were 106 deaths resulting from crashes involving large trucks in the Bluegrass State. While the causes of these accidents likely varied, one major factor is often driver fatigue. Many trucking companies have strict rules about the driving hours their drivers log, but others may not be so aware. If you find yourself on the road with a big rig and the driver seems to be driving erratically, it may be due to fatigue, so you may want to put some distance between your vehicle and the truck before you attempt to report the driver.
Some wrecks involving big rigs are caused by speed, and you may have experienced this issue while on Kentucky highways. Some drivers are under pressure to deliver as many items as possible or need to reach a certain mileage by a projected date, which may cause them to exceed state speed limits. Truckers who speed on wet or muddy roadways may increase the risk of accident or injury when sharing the road with you and other non-commercial drivers.
This content is to inform you about what might cause commercial trucking accidents and should not be interpreted as legal advice.