For the most part, drivers of commercial trucks in North Carolina strive to do their jobs safely. Working long hours on the road involves many risks. When a fleet management systems provider asked truckers to describe their top safety problems, getting cut off in traffic by passenger vehicles was their top concern.
Many truckers complained that drivers of passenger vehicles frequently changed lanes in front of them when space was insufficient. Truck drivers need to keep a safe following distance because they need time to brake if something goes wrong. Truckers mentioned that turn signal use appears to be in decline as well. This compounds the problem of getting cut off by eliminating the advanced notice that a turn signal provides. Commercial drivers also worried about the increasing risk posed by more people speeding. Bad weather troubled truckers as well because it almost always heightens their risk of getting into wrecks.
Many truck drivers acknowledged that they routinely struggled with fatigue on the job. Drivers who shared their stories emphasized that truckers needed to be aware of their physical limits and take breaks whenever necessary to promote safety.
The safety challenges of driving big rigs motivates most truckers to exercise caution because they want to get home at the end of the day. Sometimes things go wrong when truckers succumb to pressures, such as looming deadlines, inexperience or inadequate truck maintenance. Accidents between passenger cars and 18-wheelers can leave people with serious injuries. A person reeling in the aftermath of a truck accident might improve the odds of securing a personal injury settlement with the representation of an attorney. Litigating commercial truck accidents often requires sorting through multiple responsible parties and organizing evidence that shows liability. An attorney might manage the insurance and court paperwork necessary to pursue damages.