Weather and Truck Accidents

Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

During adverse weather conditions, the likelihood of truck accidents increases significantly. When you are on the road, you try to drive according to the conditions, but you cannot control how other drivers behave. When a truck driver is not driving appropriately in dangerous weather, it can result in a dangerous or deadly accident. Although the negligence is theirs, the injury is yours. Fortunately, the law allows for you to seek compensation that can help you put your life back together after your accident.

If you have been injured in an accident with a large commercial truck, the Maryland personal injury lawyers at Chakin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C. can help. Please call or email us today for a free consultation to learn more.

Hazardous Weather and Truck Drivers

Weather conditions that affect your ability to drive safely also affect a truck's ability to drive safely, although differently. Some conditions that can increase the likelihood of truck accidents include:

• Rain
• Fog
• Snow
• Sleet
• Heat
• Wind

Truck drivers should receive specific instructions about how to respond to particular weather conditions, but often drivers neglect guidelines and may drive recklessly, putting you at risk.

Heat and Truck Accidents

Many times, we may not think of hot weather as an adverse condition for driving, but heat can seriously affect a car or truck's performance. For trucks, driving in hot weather puts extra stress on already strained tires, making them more likely to burst (especially when a truck is overloaded). When a tire bursts, it can cause a trucker to lose control and lead to an accident.

High Winds

High winds are a danger to any high profile vehicle, but large commercial trucks are especially subject to the dangers of wind. When a gust of wind hits the broad side of a large truck, the force can cause the truck driver to lose control. In trying to regain control, the wind affects the cab and trailer differently, making a jackknife more likely. A large commercial truck also has a relatively high center of gravity, especially in the trailer, making them more subject to rollover accidents during high winds.

Weather and Fatigue

You know that driving under adverse weather conditions is stressful, even when you are making a relatively short trip. Truck drivers often have to drive under these stressful conditions for many hours a day for days on end. The constant strain can lead to driver fatigue, one of the most common causes of large truck accidents. Fatigue can make it harder for drivers to respond appropriately to adverse weather conditions.

Driver Responsibility

Of course, no one blames truck drivers for adverse weather conditions. Truck drivers cannot control the weather, and even when they do their best, accidents do happen. But drivers have a responsibility to obey rules and guidelines for driving in adverse weather. Slowing down, providing adequate spacing, and being courteous are as much a truck driver's responsibility as anyone's, possibly more because of the danger their truck poses to others. Truck drivers also have a responsibility to pay attention to their fatigue levels and not get on the road when they are too tired to perform at their highest level.

If you believe your truck accident was caused by a driver who was acting irresponsibly in adverse weather, the personal injury lawyers of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C., can help you seek legal remedy.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

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