Nighttime truck accidents in DC occur with unfortunate regularity. Whether a delivery truck or some other commercial vehicle, business continues into the night to keep the city running. But with nighttime comes an extra wave of obstacles and challenges for drivers. Drivers may experience fatigue at night. While there are regulations restricting the number of hours, a driver may work continuously; this does not stop the impact of fatigue. A truck driver may be working two jobs, with the night shift being the second job. Or, the mere absence of light may put an already sleep-deprived driver to sleep due to the increase of melatonin in the later hours. While these factors may affect truck drivers, they also affect everyone on the road and present a danger.
The second factor in nighttime truck accidents in DC is the lack of visibility. While Washington, D.C., has beautiful infrastructure and good lighting in certain parts of the city, other parts lack adequate lighting to safely navigate the roads and see hazards such as animals or pedestrians. A lack of visibility is a problem that can afflict any driver. While this is a more significant challenge for older drivers, enough drivers on the roads of DC are older, which presents a problem for trucking accidents. This, coupled with the sometimes confusing urban traffic patterns in DC, can spell trouble, particularly for a truck driver unfamiliar with the roads and trying to follow a GPS.
In addition to the more obvious factors contributing to nighttime truck accidents in DC, such as poor visibility and driver fatigue, the following factors require a more in-depth examination to understand their full effects.
Maintenance issues happen to trucks regardless of whether the driver follows through with proper upkeep. Trucks are built for hundreds of thousands of miles. However, that does not mean they are immune from even the most basic mechanical failures. And, of course, the results are much more catastrophic when a semi-truck has a maintenance failure. The braking system is often a critical component that fails in nighttime truck accidents in DC. Trucks require significant stopping power to bring such a heavy object on wheels to a complete stop. If the brakes fail, there is little a driver can do to stop in time before causing a severe accident.
The same goes for lighting and signal systems attached to 18-wheelers. Remember, every failure in a semi-truck is about six to eight times more severe than in a typical car. That is because the average semi-truck weighs six to eight times more than the average car. Consider how many cars you see on the busy streets of Wisconsin Avenue, K Street, 18th Street, M Street, U Street, or any other street in Downtown DC with broken lighting or signal systems. You may realize that trucks are subject to stricter regulations than the average car. However, the average car is still subject to laws that require properly functioning lighting and signal systems. Those drivers know that the risk of driving with broken lighting is a ticket, yet they continue anyway. It may be due to ignorance or cost.
Regardless, the results can be catastrophic when either of these maintenance issues occurs at night on a truck in DC.
The effects of drugs and alcohol on driver performance are well understood. Nighttime truck accidents in DC frequently involve some influence of alcohol and drugs. It may be a car driven by a drunk person leaving a bar. When that happens, and the driver behaves erratically on the road, an accident is sometimes unavoidable simply because it is difficult to stop such a large truck. Moreover, drunken drivers are unpredictable. They may weave between lanes, or they may fade into your lane unpredictably around a curve due to a lack of coordination caused by the alcohol or drugs.
Alcohol and drugs lead to impaired judgment. A driver may make a poor decision, like cutting across lanes or gauging that he has more time before gunning for a yellow light and striking a pedestrian. Additionally, alcohol leads to slower reaction times. This is a problem whether you are the truck driver or the driver of the car colliding with the truck. Suppose the truck driver is under the influence of alcohol. In that case, his chances of stopping before causing a rear-end collision are significantly diminished as trucks are already more difficult to bring to a complete stop due to their weight. Third, a truck driver who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol will have reduced motor skills. This will lead to an inability to steer, brake, and effectively operate the truck.
Nighttime truck accidents in DC pose a significant threat to the safety of DC residents and have far-reaching consequences affecting the community and even the local economy. When a semi-truck is in an accident, whether it rolls over or not, it can block off an entire street. Between the police, ambulance, and the stalled semi-truck, an entire portion of a major road or highway can be blocked. If this happens during rush hour, people may miss meetings, arrive to work late, and other unfortunate consequences are infrequently considered in discussions involving truck accidents. These are the indirect impacts of nighttime truck accidents. However, there are still direct economic impacts suffered by truck accident victims.
A truck accident can lead to serious and life-threatening injuries. These injuries may lead to exorbitant medical expenses, ambulance expenses, surgeries, and permanent disabilities. Moreover, after a truck accident in DC, you may be in so much pain that you are unable to work. This can have a tremendous impact on your quality of life. You may not be able to pay rent in a given month. You may not be able to support your children in the way they need. An experienced truck accident lawyer can help you navigate this complex process. We will fight to get you compensated for your medical expenses, your lost wages, and the time you were forced to spend in pain because of your nighttime truck accident in DC.
Much of the work Gelb & Gelb, P.C. handles is in reaction to our clients’ accidents. However, we recognize the significance of acting proactively and implementing preventative measures and safety regulations where appropriate. Accordingly, we advocate for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) technologies. These systems can assist drivers with automatic braking. This is a particularly valuable tool at night when the visibility of the human eye is reduced, yet a truck’s detection system may still be effective.
Additionally, simple methods are also effective. For example, truck drivers should maintain compliance with DC and federal standards for truck safety. At night, it is difficult for a driver to notice something that may be off with their truck. However, by checking in for regular vehicle inspections, truckers may be able to avoid issues and hazards.
Our DC truck accident attorneys are here to assist if you are in a nighttime truck accident. Our attorneys have been practicing personal injury law in the District since 1954. We have handled over 10,000 motor vehicle accident cases and have a depth of experience in nearly every imaginable scenario. If you are injured in an accident, call our office today for a free consultation at (202) 331-7227.