How delivery trucks cause accidents when making deliveries

The new-age technology has enabled people to embrace delivery services for goods. Most big companies like FedEx, UPS and also other medium-sized companies making furniture and households have large trucks for their delivery services. Most people in this age prefer ordering commodities online hence the need to facilitate home delivery services. 

Sometimes delivery trucks are usually involved in accidents closer to people’s homes and may result in fatalities or even death. These deliveries have brought danger closer to people’s homes hence the need to come up with measures to reduce the dangers and keep neighborhoods safe and also measures to be taken in case of fatalities. 

California is among the main states where truck driving is the most dominant job and has been on the spot for recording annual 250 truck accident fatalities in the past years. In California freeways, truck accidents on I-5 and I-10 average to about 1,000 annually. Los Angeles is leading with truck accidents at 2,691 cases followed by San Bernardino at 908 cases according to recent reports. The following are causes of truck accidents during deliveries

Loads not properly secured

Some delivered goods like households may be mobile and may roll if not properly tied up or when truck doors are not properly locked. These goods may fall off running trucks and fall on cars or people. These types of loads may also cause instability in the trucks due to their constant movement within the truck by shifting the center of gravity causing the truck to swerve and end up rolling over.

Lack of truck maintenance

Home delivery trucks may be operated for long periods without maintenance. This means truck failure chances may be increased making chances of accidents higher. Brakes may fail while truck drivers are backing up and they may ram into the garage or the main door of a home resulting in unprecedented damages.

Lack of experienced drivers

The huge delivery trucks would obviously need experienced truck drivers not only in terms of handling the truck but also in knowledge of the delivery area. A truck driver that has done a lot of deliveries in a certain neighborhood is more likely to cause fewer accidents since they can easily maneuver their way through the roads and home addresses. Experienced drivers who have handled trucks for a long time also come in handy in operating trucks in crowded places.

Sudden lane changes and exceeding speed limits

There are many activities happening in the neighborhood. Sudden lane change may result in knocking down a teenager on a skateboard or being rammed into by a cyclist on a scooter or even a collision from another motor vehicle. Truck drivers may be reluctant to follow traffic rules like failing to indicate before changing lanes and this may result in accidents. Exceeding speed limits in neighborhoods may also result in accidents. 

Sudden stops by truck drivers

Deliveries may be made during the night when the vision for some drivers may be impaired as not all road users are the same. Truck drivers may suddenly stop their trucks to confirm their delivery addresses and in the process blocking the way for fellow drivers behind their trucks who may ram into them resulting in an accident. Deliveries during the day may also result in these types of accidents with the addition of increased activities of bike riding, skateboarding, etc.

Backing up by truck drivers

Sometimes when truck drivers back up when they accidentally pass their destinations they may cause accidents. This may be because of the nature of the huge trucks having blindspots during backing up, meaning lack of awareness for any activity behind the truck and thus may result in knocking down someone, knocking off a gate, resulting in accidents and damages. Drivers are usually advised to continue and make legal turns if their trucks have blind spots that make it dangerous to back up.

Intoxicated drivers

Truck drivers being under the influence of alcohol or other drugs means that their judgment is not well informed. Such drivers may fail to have the full capacity to handle neighborhood traffic with playing activities and several pedestrians on walkways or even teenagers overspeeding on driveways. These drivers may end up knocking down a pedestrian, driving into a gate and causing injuries, death and even damage to property. People are encouraged to report signs of truck drivers that appear intoxicated so as to take measures on preventing fatalities before they occur.

Conclusion

The emergence of online businesses has indeed increased the services of home delivery. Home delivery services have resulted in a mini highway along with homes where a lot of children and teenage activities like skating, biking and a lot of outdoor activities. This means from the already cases that have been witnessed, the happenings of accidents cannot be ruled out and can only be prepared for other than applying extra mitigations. When delivery truck accidents occur, you could sort the services of a Los Angeles truck accident lawyer to look into your case. Other than sorting services from Los Angeles truck accident lawyers, be on the look to apply mitigation factors to avoid these accidents and keep your neighborhood safe.