Utah Truck Accident Information 

Common causes of truck accidents 

• Driver fatigue: Truck drivers work long hours and cover many miles. These factors can result in significant fatigue.
• Distracted driving: Drivers must always pay attention on the road. Cell phones, media consoles, or myriad other distractions can lead to accidents.
• Impaired driving: Use of substances, including prescribed medication, can significantly impair driver ability. Don’t drink and drive, and heed warnings on medications. 
• Mechanical failure: Semi trucks are complex machinery; maintenance is essential to ensure brakes don’t fail and tires don’t blow out. 
• Improper passing or turning: Commercial trucks have large blind spots that other drivers should be wary of to avoid potential truck crashes. 
• Poor road conditions: Be aware of adverse road conditions. Ice, inadequate maintenance, or steep grades can all be factors in truck wrecks.

Common truck accident injuries  

The injuries from commercial truck accidents are often more severe than other accidents. Common types of truck accident injuries include: 

• Traumatic brain injuries 
• Spinal cord injuries 
• Broken bones 
• Whiplash 
• Disfigurement 
• Broken or missing teeth 
• Ligament tears or strains 
• Lacerations and bruising 
• Fatalities

How many hours can a truck driver work at one time? 

Truckers are generally paid by the mile and work long hours with few breaks. They are incentivized to keep driving, even when tired. Due to these conditions, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created the Hours of Service Rule. 
The Hours of Service Rule is as follows: 

• Truckers can drive for 11 hours consecutively after 10 hours off.
• Drivers can be on duty for 14 hours to allow time for logging and various other responsibilities outside of driving.
• Drivers must take a 30-minute break after eight consecutive hours of driving.
• Two hours may be added to these maximums in adverse conditions.

 Truckers must adhere to the Hours of Service Rule but should take breaks beyond those requirements as necessary to avoid fatigue. Falling asleep behind the wheel is dangerous for anyone, but fatigued driving is especially hazardous for truckers due to the size and weight of semi-trucks. 

Who is responsible for my commercial vehicle accident? 

Beyond the typical responsibility between the parties involved in an accident, in semi-truck accidents, the companies responsible for training and maintenance of the driver and truck may hold some responsibility. 
 If the truck driver was not driving responsibly, they may bear the majority of the fault for the crash. 
 Trucking companies employing commercial drivers may be held liable if it is determined that they were not properly training their drivers or maintaining their trucks. 
 Truck manufacturers may be held responsible if mechanical failure was responsible for the crash.
 An investigation may be conducted to determine the liable parties. Photo and video evidence from the scene, witness testimony, accident reports, maintenance records, the trucker’s activity logs, and the truck’s black box data may all be examined to determine who was at fault in the accident.