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Logging Truck and Hauler Accidents

Driving a logging truck is a dangerous occupation which requires the utmost attention to detail, consideration for public safety and a willingness to adapt to situations as they arise. The sheer size and weight of a logging truck is what makes it such a unique vehicle to operate and also the factor which contributes to the seriousness and often fatal nature of log hauler accidents.  A logging truck is oversized by nature, which when carrying a full load is wider than a standard tractor trailer and weighs thousands upon thousands of pounds. Special consideration and patience must be employed by an individual operating a logging truck for his or her own personal safety as well as for that of the overall public.

First and foremost, the load of logs being transported by a logging truck should be checked and rechecked to make sure it is secure and poses no threat of becoming loose during normal operation and falling from the truck onto passing motorists. Additionally, the logging truck itself should be inspected for wear and tear or mechanical failure prior to be driven on public roads with a full load. Many log hauler accidents happen as a result of brake failure, tire blowout or other mechanical breakdown. Failure to ensure a secure load and a properly operating logging truck could result in an accident causing personal injury or death to the truck driver or fellow motorists sharing the road. Personal injury attorneys investigate log hauler accidents in which it is found that negligence on the part of the driver or truck owner was the cause, and therefore, damages are recoverable.

Not only do logging trucks have to share public roads with private passenger cars, they must also accommodate other large trucks and tractor trailers on narrow, single lane logging roads. Communication and coordination with fellow drivers in the area is crucial to navigate these narrow, winding roads without incident. For example, all drivers should take special care to track their planned route and inform other drivers of their estimated time of arrival. However, even after this, a logging truck driver should radio dispatch as well as any other drivers in the area to alert them to which direction they are traveling on the service road. Many log hauler accidents occur as head on collisions resulting in a failure to communicate movements.

Additionally, the wide nature of a logging truck makes it imperative that a driver be fully aware of his or her surroundings at all times.  Most logging operations take place in rural areas, surrounded by winding public roads which often cut through mountainous areas.  As most logging trucks are wide enough to take up some of the oncoming traffic lane, extra care must be taken when traveling blind curves or narrow stretches. Log hauler accidents involving passenger cars often occur as a result of one party not paying attention or the driver of the car attempting to pass or “squeeze” by the logging truck. Log hauler accidents involving passenger cars are often deadly due to the discrepancy in the size of the vehicles.

If you've been involved in a logging truck accident, contact an experience accident attorney as soon as possible to get effective representation.