When a big rig crashes, the outcome is rarely minor. These vehicles are massive, heavy, and difficult to control, which means even a simple mistake can cause life-changing injuries. At Timbs Injury Law, we regularly help people throughout Mississippi who have been hurt in collisions involving tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, dump trucks, and other commercial vehicles. Understanding what causes these crashes helps us uncover the truth and hold the right parties responsible.
Driver Fatigue: One of the Biggest Threats on Mississippi Roads
Truck drivers spend long hours behind the wheel, crossing the state on tight schedules. Even though federal regulations limit the number of hours they can drive, many drivers still push themselves too far or feel pressured by trucking companies to deliver loads quickly.
When a driver is exhausted, reaction time slows, judgment slips, and awareness declines. We’ve seen too many cases where fatigue caused a driver to drift into another lane, miss a stopped vehicle ahead, or fall asleep completely. These crashes often happen at full highway speed, leaving devastating injuries behind.
Distracted Driving Inside the Cab
Distractions affect all drivers, but for truckers, even a moment of inattention can be deadly. Some of the most common distractions we see in big rig cases include:
- Checking GPS or dispatch devices
- Texting or using a phone
- Eating or drinking
- Adjusting controls in the truck
- Reviewing delivery paperwork
When a driver’s eyes leave the road, the truck can travel the length of a football field in just a few seconds. We work to uncover cellphone records, dash-cam footage, and other evidence to prove distraction when it played a role.
Poor Truck Maintenance and Mechanical Failures
Commercial trucks rack up thousands of miles each month. They require constant inspections and proper maintenance to operate safely, yet many companies cut corners to save time or money.
We often discover failures involving:
- Worn brakes or brake system defects
- Bald or improperly inflated tires
- Steering problems
- Faulty lights or turn signals
- Trailer coupling issues
When maintenance records show skipped inspections or delayed repairs, it helps us establish negligence on the part of the trucking company or maintenance contractor.
Overloaded or Improperly Loaded Cargo
Cargo shifts are a major but often overlooked cause of big rig accidents in Mississippi. When a trailer is overloaded, unbalanced, or improperly secured, the driver can lose control even while driving normally.
Improper loading can lead to:
- Rollovers
- Jackknife accidents
- Spilled cargo blocking the roadway
- Loss of braking ability on hills
These cases often involve multiple responsible parties—drivers, loaders, shipping companies, and sometimes even third-party contractors. We investigate every link in the chain to determine where the breakdown occurred.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
Many truck drivers face delivery deadlines that encourage them to speed or take risks on the road. A speeding 80,000-pound truck is incredibly difficult to stop, especially in bad weather or heavy traffic.
Reckless behaviors we see include:
- Tailgating
- Unsafe lane changes
- Ignoring traffic signals
- Driving too fast for weather conditions
When these actions cause a crash, we use witness statements, black-box data, and crash reconstruction to show how the driver’s choices led to the collision.
Inadequate Training or Unsafe Company Practices
Not all truck drivers receive the training they need before being put on the road. Some are rushed through training programs or sent out before they’re ready to handle the responsibilities of operating such large vehicles.
Inadequate training can lead to:
- Poor handling in emergency situations
- Difficulty maneuvering tight turns
- Misjudging stopping distances
- Improper trailer hookups
These failures often trace back to unsafe company policies. When a trucking company creates dangerous conditions, we make sure they’re held accountable—not just the driver.
How We Build Strong Cases for Truck Accident Victims
Truck accident claims are more complex than standard car accident cases because multiple parties may share responsibility. We gather evidence from every possible source, including:
- Black-box data
- Driver logs
- Maintenance records
- Company safety policies
- Surveillance footage
- Witness interviews
- Accident reconstruction experts
Our goal is simple: uncover the truth and pursue the full compensation our clients need for medical care, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and long-term recovery.