Health issues can be the root cause of a commercial truck wreck

Motor vehicle collisions are more than just frustrating inconveniences. They are a leading cause of severe injury and death, and the bigger the difference in size between vehicles, the worse the potential consequences of a wreck.

The people affected by a commercial trucking collision will often try to make sense of their circumstances. They will want to know the real cause of the crash and how they can obtain compensation for their medical expenses, vehicle damage and lost income.

Often, when the big truck is to blame for a crash, the driver is at fault. Even with extra training, commercial drivers can make mistakes that lead to collisions. However, while people frequently blame drivers, sometimes crashes where the truck is at fault are the results of medical issues.

Non-performance is among the top issues causing truck crashes

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) keeps detailed records of the actual causes of truck crashes. According to FMCSA data, while bad decisions or failure to act in time cause the majority of crashes, non-performance is still listed as a top cause.

Non-performance often involves a medical issue, but it can involve a truck driver falling asleep at the wheel. Strokes, heart attacks and even adverse reactions to medications can render a driver unconscious and incapable of performing their job responsibilities. Someone who has a medical emergency while driving at work could lose control of the vehicle, with tragic results.

Although the impact on the people in the smaller vehicle will be the same, medical issues contributing to a crash may affect what financial and legal rights people have when making a claim. Learning more about what causes commercial trucking collisions will help people seek justice after a wreck.