Truck stops are safe havens for exhausted and busy truck drivers. They offer food, fuel, and a much-needed break to drivers crisscrossing the country looking for a place to stop. These locations along the highway are the perfect places for truckers to stop and recharge before hitting the road again. Unfortunately, they are also places where accidents can occur for several reasons.
Risks Faced by Truck Drivers and Others at Truck Stops
Truck drivers often have strict deadlines and long hours on the road. The pressure to stay ahead of schedule can cause stress and fatigue. Large-scale truck stops offer respite to weary travelers, particularly long-haul commercial truck drivers.
Truck stops are specifically designed to cater to truckers and the size and weight of the vehicles they operate. However, these locations can also be dangerous because they attract tired drivers.
Pedestrians are particularly prone to accidents at truck stops, as they are one of the places where foot traffic interacts with tractor-trailers the most. Tired and distracted truckers may not make an effort to look for people on foot when maneuvering their large vehicles in a truck stop parking lot.
How Do Truck Accidents Occur at Truck Stops?
Truck accidents at truck stops are often the result of careless driving and truck driver error.
Truck stop accident causes are numerous. Truck stop accidents are frequently caused by:
- Sleep deprivation
- Distracted driving
- Impaired driving
- Improper parking
- Driver error
When a driver is tired or distracted, it is easy to fail to keep a proper lookout and back into other vehicles or hit a pedestrian. Trucks are also enormous vehicles, and even though truck stops cater to these larger trucks, blind spots and no-zones can make it difficult for truck drivers to spot pedestrians and smaller passenger vehicles, resulting in significant accidents.
Truck stop accident types often include:
- Rear-end collisions
- No-zone accidents
- Parking accidents
- Unsecured cargo accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
These types of collisions can lead to common truck stop injuries like traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, and soft tissue damage.
Legal Options After a Truck Accident at a Truck Stop
Truck stop accident liability can be tricky. While the driver may be at fault, other parties may also bear some liability for causing a truck stop crash. Those parties can include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The truck stop owner and operator
- Other motorists
- Parts or truck manufacturers
Truck stop accidents can be complicated. Discussing your situation with an experienced truck accident attorney is the best way to learn more about your legal options following an accident, such as filing an accident claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
Why You Need Legal Help After a Truck Stop Accident
Recovering fair compensation after a truck stop accident can be challenging. Truck accident victims often have significant medical expenses and other financial losses. Fighting an insurance company for the money you deserve may feel like an overwhelming uphill battle. However, a skilled truck accident attorney at Craig, Kelley & Faultless, LLC, can analyze your situation, explain your legal rights, and manage your truck accident case from start to finish.
Contact our office today and request a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you after an accident at a truck stop.
Email
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin
Instagram