An accident with a sedan or a van can cause serious injuries. In many cases, these kinds of accidents can cause traumatic brain and spine injuries. Many people have to go through surgery, medical treatment, physical therapy and medication to recover from a car accident.
However, an accident with a semitruck can easily be fatal. These vehicles often carry several thousands of pounds of various kinds of cargo, not to mention that these trucks have to be large just to do their job. Many trucks also carry explosive and chemical compounds that can spill, increasing the chances of a serious injury to all involved.
When people suffer accidents with semitrucks, their first inclination is to blame the driver. Why wouldn’t they since the driver was behind the wheel? However, in some cases, the trucking company is at fault for people’s injuries. Here’s how:
Poor working conditions are a heavy contributor
Trucking isn’t a glamorous job. Many drivers spend countless hours on the road. More often than not, these drivers don’t see their friends and family for weeks. This can lead many to suffer poor mental and physical health because of the strict work conditions and deadlines.
Some drivers don’t get the proper amount of sleep, food and exercise needed for the average human. As a result, truckers are likely to develop depression, insomnia, heart disease, high blood pressure and many other mental and physical diseases.
Yet, as stated above, truckers don’t choose this life. It’s likely the fault of trucking companies putting so much pressure on their workers. Not only are they risking their employees’ health but they are putting others in danger of vehicle accidents.