Aggressive driving substantially increases the likelihood of motor vehicle accidents, but when drivers of large trucks weighing up to 80,000 pounds do it, the results can be devastating. If you were injured in an aggressive driving accident, you deserve to be fairly compensated for the harm you’ve suffered. An experienced Albuquerque truck accident attorney can help explain your legal rights after an aggressive driving accident and how we can help. Contact us today for a free case review.
Aggressive truck driving can lead to severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and internal organ damage. It also increases the risk of certain types of truck-specific accidents, such as jackknife accidents and rollover accidents, which occur due to loss of vehicle control.
What Is Aggressive Driving?
Aggressive driving is typically a combination of moving traffic violations that could endanger other people or their property. This driving behavior may be undertaken to move around other vehicles faster or to intimidate them out of the driver’s way.
Common Examples of Aggressive Driving in Albuquerque
Aggressive driving involves deliberate actions. Albuquerque truck drivers may engage in aggressive driving by:
- Speeding: Large trucks require a longer time to come to a safe stop due to their size and weight. When they are speeding, they’re more likely to lose control of their vehicle. If a collision occurs, it will likely result in more serious injuries due to the higher speed.
- Tailgating: Tailgating drivers may have inadequate time to avoid a collision if the vehicle in front of them suddenly stops.
- Making sudden lane changes: Truck drivers may weave through traffic, which is particularly dangerous because trucks have such large blind spots.
- Ignoring traffic signals: Aggressive truck drivers may run red lights, fail to yield, or disregard other traffic signals, making their driving unpredictable for those sharing the road with them.
- Trying to run other drivers off the roadway: Some truck drivers may go so far as to intentionally run other drivers off the roadway.
Why Some Truck Drivers Drive Aggressively in Albuquerque
Truck drivers may drive aggressively for many reasons, including:
- Trying to meet tight deadlines: Truck drivers may be subject to tight deadlines imposed by their employers. They may use aggressive driving tactics to reach their destinations faster. Many truck drivers are paid by the mile, so they may be further incentivized to make fast deliveries, regardless of the cost.
- Fatigued driving: Truck drivers are legally permitted to work up to 14 hours in a workday and drive for 11 hours a day. They may be tired and not acting rationally as a result of this fatigue.
- Impairment by drugs or alcohol: Some commercial drivers may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which can lower inhibitions and reduce judgment.
- Using intimidation tactics: In another effort to expedite their deliveries, truck drivers may use the larger size of their vehicle to intimidate other drivers out of their way.
- Road rage: Drivers who have been on the road for a long time may be cut off or disregarded by other drivers. They may respond with aggressive driving tactics.
Contact Our Albuquerque Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you were injured by an aggressive driver in Albuquerque, an experienced truck accident attorney from Caruso Law Offices can evaluate the circumstances leading to the crash and help you relentlessly pursue compensation from the at-fault party. Contact us online or call us at (505) 833-5000 for a free, no-obligation consultation.