[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]According to the American Trucking Association, there is a lack of drivers in the United States. Whether it is because the lure of the open road is no longer there or people are turning to different industries for employment, the ATA says that there is a shortage of nearly 900,000 truckers across the country.
The lack of drivers has an effect on the economy. Fewer drivers mean that fewer goods are being moved. Fewer goods moved means that supply cannot always meet demand. When that happens, prices at your local stores rise. Fewer drivers also means a big push to hire new ones, putting more inexperienced drivers out on the road.
Inexperience and Accidents
Collisions between trucks and vehicles often lead to catastrophic injuries for the people in the passenger vehicle. The power that a truck packs is no match for a typical vehicle. There are certainly a variety of causes that contribute to truck accidents, but driver inexperience is certainly one at the top of the list.
When you learned to drive a car, you were given a book to study and taken out on the road to get some practice time behind the wheel. Learning how to drive a truck isn’t much different. Drivers are trained and then given the keys. The only thing that can make them a better driver is to log miles on roads and highways.
Think back to the experiences you had driving when you first got your license. Chances are you would call yourself a much better driver today than you were when you first sat in the driver’s seat. You may even be able to recall an accident or scary incident you can attribute to your lack of experience. Hopefully you walked away without injury.
Unfortunately, trucks are not as easy to operate as small vehicles. A scary incident could mean an accident. A lack of experience could mean slow reaction time or overcorrection. Slower reaction times and an inability to control the vehicle can quickly lead to dangerous situations that impact people for the rest of their lives.
What You Can Do
If you find yourself sharing the road with a semi, do what you can to protect yourself. Don’t drive too closely, never cut a semi off, and stay out of the blind spots. Assume that the driver behind the wheel is a new one and maybe not as experienced as they need to be to drive safely. While many truckers out on the road have years of experience, a good number of them are new and may not be able to react to situations properly.
People involved in accidents that are due to someone’s negligence, inexperience or reckless behavior have the right to seek compensation. If you have been injured in a truck accident in San Luis Obispo, call our office. We will help you schedule a free case evaluation and discuss your rights and options with you. Call today to schedule your case evaluation and take the first step toward financial recovery.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
