Top Causes of Truck Accidents
Request a Free ConsultationWhen a commercial truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the results are rarely minor. Understanding what caused the crash is often the key to proving liability and recovering compensation. Trucking companies move fast after a wreck, dispatching investigators while critical evidence vanishes within days. Knowing the leading causes of truck accidents and how they’re proven can make the difference between a denied claim and a successful recovery, and a New Jersey truck accident lawyer can help protect that evidence before it disappears.
Grungo Law represents truck accident victims throughout South Jersey and Pennsylvania. Our team includes a Supreme Court of New Jersey–certified Civil Trial Attorney. Our firm has recovered over $135 million in settlements and verdicts for injured clients. If we can help, we will.
Key Takeaways for Truck Accident Causes and Evidence
- Driver fatigue resulting from hours-of-service violations under 49 CFR Part 395 may be proven through electronic logging device data, dispatch communications, and delivery schedules that show physically impossible timelines.
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance that violates 49 CFR Part 396 creates liability that may be established through maintenance records, roadside inspection reports, and physical evidence from failed components.
- Federal regulations require ELD records to be retained by carriers for at least six months (49 CFR § 395.8(k)), while maintenance records must be kept for at least one year during service and six months after a vehicle leaves the carrier’s control (49 CFR § 396.3(c)).
- Multiple causes often combine in single accidents—fatigue plus poor maintenance plus speeding, for example—strengthening cases through cumulative negligence theories.
- Driver error, vehicle maintenance failures, and environmental factors are leading causes of truck accidents.
Driver Fatigue From Hours-of-Service Violations
Federal regulations under 49 CFR Part 395 limit truck drivers to 11 consecutive hours driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty in order to prevent driver fatigue. Hours-of-service violations may support negligence or negligence-per-se claims, depending on state law and case facts.
Trucking companies may bear liability for pressuring drivers through unrealistic delivery deadlines and per-mile pay structures. Electronic logging devices (ELDs) automatically record driving hours under the December 2017 federal mandate. Motor carriers must retain ELD records and supporting documents for at least six months under 49 CFR § 395.8(k)(1).
Key Evidence to Request
Critical evidence that helps to prove driver fatigue includes:
- Electronic logging device data that shows hours-of-service violations
- Dispatch communications that show company pressure to deliver on impossible schedules
- Delivery schedules that prove physically impossible timelines without violations
- Truck stop receipts that reveal locations different from logbook claims
- Cell phone records that show activity when drivers should have been sleeping
- Weigh station records that provide timestamps that prove movement during claimed rest periods
Attorneys typically send preservation letters promptly—often within days—to prevent spoliation (destruction) of ELD and other data. Accident reconstruction experts correlate fatigue with crash dynamics through reaction time and braking distance analysis, which becomes essential when building a truck accident claim that depends on proving how fatigue contributed to the collision.
Inadequate Vehicle Maintenance That Causes Mechanical Failures
Federal regulations under 49 CFR Part 396 require annual inspections and documented repairs. Brake violations account for many out-of-service violations. Companies that defer maintenance despite brake wear and low tire tread depth that is below legal minimums create liability.
Records and Inspections
Under 49 CFR §396.3(c), motor carriers must retain maintenance records for each vehicle for at least one year while it is in service and for six months after it leaves the carrier’s control. Annual inspection reports document DOT inspections that identify deficiencies. Roadside inspection reports document violations and out-of-service orders. Physical evidence from accident scenes may include brake components with worn pads and tire remnants with inadequate tread depth.
Attorneys obtain court orders to impound trucks when possible, demand the preservation of maintenance records, and inspect vehicles before repairs. Mechanical engineers examine brake systems and tires to determine failure modes.
If you’re concerned about evidence preservation in your truck accident case, contact Grungo Law for free consultation. Call (856) 548-8347 today.
Improper Cargo Loading That Creates Instability
Federal regulations under 49 CFR Part 393, Subpart I, govern cargo securement. Federal weight limits under 23 CFR 658.17 restrict gross vehicle weight to 80,000 pounds on interstate highways, unless special permits are issued. Improper loading causes rollovers through unbalanced loads, loss of control through weight distribution problems, and extended stopping distances when overweight.
Weigh station records document truck weight and axle weights. Bills of lading provide cargo manifests that show the weight and loading parties. Photos from accident scenes show cargo position and securing devices. Accident reconstruction experts show how improper loading contributed to the loss of control.
Distracted Driving Violations
FMCSA regulations under 49 CFR §§ 392.80 and 392.82 prohibit commercial drivers from texting or using hand-held mobile phones while driving; hands-free device use is permitted. Cell phone records, including call logs and text timestamps, reveal activity at the time of the crash. Event data recorders display speed and braking at the time of impact. Distracted drivers often fail to brake or brake late.
Dispatch communications show companies sending messages to drivers. In-cab camera footage shows when drivers’ eyes are off the road or when phones are in their hands. Phone forensic analysis can recover deleted messages and timing.
Attorneys send preservation letters demanding phone preservation. Subpoenas to cell phone carriers obtain records. Accident reconstruction experts correlate the timing of distractions with failures to respond.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving
Speed is a contributing factor in numerous fatal truck crashes annually. Loaded tractor-trailers require a much longer stopping distance than passenger vehicles, depending on speed and road conditions, which is a frequent issue seen in truck accidents in New Jersey where congestion and highway design often amplify the danger.
Event data recorders (black boxes) record vehicle speed in the seconds before crashes. Skid marks and reconstruction allow calculations of pre-impact speed. Witness testimony describes the truck speeding or aggressive driving. Traffic camera footage captures truck speeds.
Attorneys demand immediate black box data preservation and hire accident reconstruction experts. Reconstruction engineers calculate speeds and determine whether speed was a cause.
Inadequate Driver Training and Qualification
Commercial driver requirements under 49 CFR Part 391 include biennial medical certification, knowledge and skills testing, and background verification. Negligent hiring occurs when companies skip background checks or hire drivers with poor safety records.
Driver qualification files must include CDL verification, medical certification, and a completed background check. Motor vehicle records show driving history and DUI convictions. Drug and alcohol testing results include pre-employment and post-accident tests. Company safety scores through FMCSA’s Safety Measurement System show violation history.
Attorneys subpoena complete driver employment files and training documentation. Trucking industry experts evaluate whether hiring and training met standards.
Our truck accident attorneys promptly send preservation letters, obtain black-box data, subpoena driver logs and maintenance records, and retain expert witnesses. Contact us at (856) 548-8347 for a free case evaluation.
Blind Spot Accidents and Impaired Driving
Truck drivers bear responsibility to check blind spots before lane changes. Failure to check mirrors properly or to verify clearance constitutes negligence. Accident scene evidence shows vehicle positions and damage patterns. Event data recorders show steering input data that may reveal sudden lane changes, reflecting the increase in trucking accidents linked to preventable driver errors.
Commercial drivers must not operate vehicles with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04% or higher (49 CFR §392.5), and may be temporarily removed from duty for lower readings under federal regulations. Blood or breath test results demonstrate impairment. Post-accident drug testing, as required by the FMCSA, provides direct evidence. Police reports document officer observations, including slurred speech and bloodshot eyes.
Evidence You Can Preserve Immediately After a Truck Accident
Some proof disappears within days—secure what you can and keep it organized. Photos, identifiers, and contemporaneous notes often decide liability disputes.
Within 48 hours, collect:
- Complete police crash report with officer observations
- Medical records documenting all injuries and treatment
- Your own cell phone records and dash camera footage, if equipped
- Photos of all vehicle damage from multiple angles
- Employer verification of lost wages if unable to work
FAQ for Truck Accident Causes and Evidence
What is the truck’s black box, and how does it prove fault?
Event data recorders (black boxes) capture vehicle speed, brake application, and steering inputs. This data proves whether trucks exceeded speed limits and whether drivers braked appropriately. Black box analysis often proves violations that drivers and companies deny.
How do I get the truck driver’s cell phone records?
Attorneys send preservation letters to drivers and trucking companies demanding phone preservation, then subpoena cell phone carriers for complete records. Phone forensic experts extract deleted messages and determine the exact timing of phone activity.
What insurance limits do interstate motor carriers carry?
Most interstate motor carriers must carry at least $750,000 in liability insurance under 49 CFR Part 387, with higher minimums for certain cargo (e.g., hazardous materials). These limits affect settlement strategy and the potential sources of recovery.
Who investigates a serious truck crash, and can I get those reports?
Local or state police typically investigate; for major crashes, federal agencies (e.g., NTSB) may also investigate. Police crash reports are obtainable through the agency’s records process, and NTSB public dockets (when opened) can provide photographs, diagrams, and factual reports.
What happens if the trucking company destroys evidence?
Courts may impose sanctions or adverse inferences for spoliation, subject to jurisdictional rules. Immediate preservation letters from attorneys help prevent destruction by creating legal obligations.
What experts are needed to prove a truck accident case?
Accident reconstruction engineers calculate speeds and determine causation. Mechanical engineers examine brake systems and tire failures. Trucking industry experts evaluate hiring and training standards. Life care planners establish future medical needs. Economic experts project lost earning capacity.
How is evidence of driver fatigue obtained?
ELD data, dispatch communications, delivery schedules, truck stop receipts, and weigh station records together can prove hours-of-service violations. Accident reconstruction correlates fatigue with reaction time failures.
Can truck manufacturers or maintenance contractors be held liable after a crash?
Yes. If defective components—such as brakes, tires, or coupling devices—contribute to a collision, the manufacturer or maintenance contractor may share liability. Product liability and negligent maintenance claims often accompany driver or carrier negligence claims in serious truck accident cases.
How do weather and road conditions affect liability in truck accidents?
Truck drivers and carriers must adjust for weather and visibility under 49 CFR §392.14, which requires “extreme caution” during hazardous conditions like rain, snow, or fog. Failure to reduce speed or stop operating when conditions are unsafe can establish negligence even if the weather played a role.
What happens if the truck involved in the crash is owned by an independent contractor?
Trucking companies may still be liable under federal regulations and state agency principles if they control the route, dispatch, or load assignments. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations treat carriers as responsible for the operation of their leased trucks, even when operated by independent contractors, under 49 CFR §376.12(c).
What is the difference between interstate and intrastate trucking regulations?
Interstate trucking—hauling goods across state lines—is governed by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). Intrastate carriers operating only within one state follow state-specific rules that often mirror the FMCSR. Determining which rules apply affects insurance minimums, driver qualifications, and liability standards.
Contact Grungo Law for Your Truck Accident Evidence Preservation
Understanding truck accident causes helps evaluate case strength, but obtaining evidence requires immediate attorney action. Electronic logging device data faces overwriting after six months. Maintenance records face destruction after retention periods. Trucking companies send investigators immediately to build defenses.
Grungo Law serves Philadelphia, Cherry Hill, Medford, Hamilton Township, Vineland, and surrounding areas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Our team includes a Supreme Court of New Jersey–certified Civil Trial Attorney. We handle truck accident cases involving federal regulations, multiple defendants, and catastrophic injuries.
If we can help, we will. You’re not a case file—you’re someone facing life-altering injuries while trucking companies build defenses. We act immediately to preserve ELD data, obtain black box information, subpoena maintenance records, and hire expert witnesses. Call (856) 548-8347 for a free consultation with 24/7 availability. We advance expert witness fees, court costs, and other litigation-related expenses. For catastrophically injured clients unable to travel, we conduct consultations at homes and hospitals. We will fight for the compensation you need for medical treatment, lost earning capacity, and moving forward.