Drivers in California certainly don't want to collide with an 18-wheeler, which weighs about 20 times more than the average passenger vehicle. It may help for drivers as well as truckers to know what the most common causes of truck accidents are.

Driver error and worn or defective parts

First, there's driver error, usually on the part of passenger vehicle drivers. Drivers may, for example, speed, drive distracted, commit DUI or cut too closely in front of a truck.

Second, many accidents are the result of vehicle parts worn down and not maintained. Truckers are often guilty of this; their rigs travel hundreds of miles a day and are supposed to be inspected before every shift. Some equipment fails, however, because of a manufacturing or design defect, in which case the maker of the part would be liable. The company that sold the truck and even the mechanic who repaired or installed the part could be implicated.

Bad weather and incorrectly loaded cargo

Inclement weather makes an accident more likely, and when combined with inexperienced truckers, the outcome may be a hydroplaning or jackknifing incident. Lastly, cargo loaders who don't follow industry-specific rules for loading and securing cargo can indirectly cause an accident where the truck tips over or lets the cargo spill out over the road.

When collisions lead to injury claims

Some truck collisions lead to personal injury claims against the trucking company. If you were hurt in a crash and believe that the trucker caused it, you can file such a claim although the procedures can be complicated. You may want a lawyer who, with the help of crash investigators and other experts, may strive to prove the other side's negligence. A lawyer might be able to negotiate on your behalf for a reasonable settlement.