Truck accidents can be caused by a variety of factors. Driver fatigue, speeding, aggressive driving, equipment failures and unsafe passing can all lead to serious accidents. A recent truck accident in a nearby state appears to have been caused by unsafe passing on the part of a truck driver.

A 76-year-old Nebraska woman and her 18-year-old passenger ended up in the ditch after their car was struck by a semitrailer. The driver of the truck reportedly merged into the car as it was trying to pass it.

The 76-year-old driver and the 18-year-old passenger were reportedly wearing their seatbelts. However, they did suffer injuries in the crash. They were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The driver of the truck did not sustain injuries in the accident.

Drivers of all kinds of vehicles must make safety their top priority. However, it is often even more important for truck drivers to exercise caution. A semitrailer is much larger than most other vehicles. When a car is involved in an accident with a semitrailer people often suffer very serious injuries.

Truck drivers and trucking companies may take deliberate actions to save time or money. They may purposefully overload a truck or skip a maintenance check. When people are hurt as a result of these deliberate actions, truck drivers and trucking companies should be held responsible.

Consulting with an experienced attorney may be a good first step after a Nebraska resident is involved in a truck accident. An attorney can work with experts to hold negligent parties responsible.

Source: Omaha.com, “2 Nebraska women injured in I-29 crash,” Jay Withrow, April 9, 2013