How Do Weather Conditions Affect Truck Crash Injuries?

Driving any type of truck, such as a tractor-trailer, semi, rig, box truck, flatbed, or delivery truck, is difficult under normal weather conditions. Some of the many challenges of driving a truck in any type of weather include handling blind spots, driving when cargo may shift or spill, wide-turn accidents, jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, and many other dangers.

Generally, trucks need more time and distance to stop than cars because trucks are much heavier than most cars.

Drivers need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to drive commercial trucks. They should have proper training before driving their truck. Trucking companies should conduct background checks on their drivers to ensure that they have a strong driving record. Trucking companies should confirm their drivers are safe by conducting ride-alongs to test the driver’s ability, skills and habits. Trucking companies must also randomly re-test their drivers. And when any driver is less than safe, they must have retraining, or be taken off the roads. Trucking companies must have systems in place to hire competent drivers, test their drivers, train their drivers, supervise their drivers, and take action when any driver is less than safe.

Common truck dangers for different types of weather

• Fog: Fog reduces a driver’s ability to see in front of the truck, to the sides of the truck, and to the rear of the truck.
• Rain: Drivers need even more time and distance to come to a complete stop when it’s raining or there is water on the road due to recent rain. If the roads are wet, drivers need to be aware of the danger of hydroplaning.
• Wind: Florida’s tropical climate causes weather to change quickly. And big trucks are at risk of losing control from strong winds, especially on some of our higher and longer bridges.
• Glare: Strong sunny conditions can make it impossible for a driver to see, even when, otherwise, the weather is picture-perfect.

Some of the main dangers of bad weather include reduced visibility, difficulty stopping, and difficulty concentrating. If the power goes out, traffic signals may not work. Heavy winds could cause branches, trees, and other landscaping to fall onto the road, creating dangerous hazards. Slick roads from rain are especially dangerous.

Florida truck drivers do need to prepare for the possibility of tropical storms, hurricanes, and flooding. It’s better to avoid driving when these weather conditions are forecast. When these intense weather conditions occur, drivers should stop and seek a safe location and wait out the bad weather. Driving in heavy winds, pouring rain, and deep layers of water is especially dangerous.

A study on the relationship between weather and truck injuries

In a 2020 analysis, researchers found how the weather affects the severity of a truck accident victim’s injuries. The analysis examined data from the Highway Safety Information System during a five-year period. The study analyzed truck injury data for normal weather conditions, rain. The study also analyzed rear-end accidents, sideswipes, and rural accidents.

The impetus for the study was that more than 450 people (according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in 2015) died in truck accidents due to bad weather.

Generally, the size and weight of trucks, combined with their higher center of gravity, make them more vulnerable to accidents such as rollovers and jackknifes. The study focused on different study models for different weather conditions. This way, the study could focus on many different combinations of factors.

The study focused on “only crashes involving single-unit trucks, truck trailers, tractor semi-trailers, and tractor doubles were considered.” The study reviewed both at-fault and no-fault truck-involved crashes and concluded that:

• “Safety and enforcement programs should focus on female truck drivers.”
• A variable speed limit sign, during rainy weather, should be used to reduce how at which trucks travel.
• Truck driving on non-interstate roads during rainy conditions should be limited or prohibited.

The study drew many other conclusions, such as that “single-unit truck drivers were found to be associated with decreased probability of minor injury under normal conditions and an increased probability of minor injury under rainy conditions.”

How does bad weather make it difficult to respond to truck accidents?

Heavy storms can make it impossible or next to impossible for any truck accident victims to receive help. Police officers, emergency medical technicians, ambulances, tow trucks, and other first responders will likely have to wait out the tropical storm, hurricane, or other natural disaster until it’s safe to get to the accident site.

What precautions should truck drivers take when bad weather occurs?

Some of the precautions drivers should take when it rains or there’s fog, glare, or other dangerous weather, include the following:

• Trucks should have proper working windshield wipers, brakes, lights, and other equipment to manage the elements and help alert other drivers to their presence.
• Tires should be properly inflated.
• Drivers should use their headlights so they’re more visible to other drivers.
• Drivers should immediately slow down or get off the road.
• If any accidents do occur, drivers or anyone who can should contact the local police.

In fog, drivers should use low beams and not high beams. In rain, drivers should avoid cruise control and be aware that bridges and overpasses are usually subject to higher winds. Drivers should understand how to avoid hydroplaning and what to do if they begin to skid.

Who is responsible for accidents during bad weather?

Our Tampa truck accident lawyers file personal injury and wrongful death claims against everyone responsible for an accident that occurs in bad weather. It’s generally not an excuse that a natural disaster occurred, unless it completely came out of the blue, and there was nothing a driver could do.

The responsible parties may include:

• The truck driver for failing to act responsibly
• The owner of the truck for failing to ensure the truck was in safe working order
• The truck driver’s employers for not having good systems in place to insure safe driving
• The companies involved in the shipment may have pressured the driver to drive when the driver should have stopped
• Inspection and repair companies for failing to ensure the safety of the truck
• Manufacturers who may be liable for defective truck parts such as tires, brakes, hydraulic systems, seatbelts, and airbags
• Other drivers

Truck accidents often cause severe and permanent injuries. Some are catastrophic. Sadly, many truck accidents are fatal. The elements normally only increase the severity of any injury. Our Tampa truck accident lawyers have the experience and working relationships with liability and medical professionals to hold defendants liable and obtain all the compensation you deserve.

Please call us today or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis.