by O’Malley Tunstall PLLC | May 10, 2021 | Truck Accidents

The logging industry plays an important role in North Carolina. The state has more than 18 million acres of timberland. Logging provides thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of revenue.

Too many trucks on the road

Many of the jobs in the state logging industry are held by drivers of large trucks hauling timber and lumber. It is nearly impossible not to see these big trucks on the state’s roads. The sheer number of logging trucks and the dangers tied to truck driving are why there are so many logging truck accidents in North Carolina.

Semi-truck and logging truck accidents are common in the U.S. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 530,000 large trucks were involved in accidents in 2018 across the nation. And that number includes only the reported accidents. Over 150,000 people were injured, and a total of 4,951 people died in those accidents.

Common causes of logging truck accidents

There are many reasons for truck accidents. Truck drivers may lack training, are tired, or are driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol. The trucks may have defective parts or were not maintained properly. Improperly loaded or secured cargo, such as logs, are a big factor in trucking accidents. Even a slight shift in a load can affect a driver’s control of the truck.

Watch out for logging trucks while you are driving. Truck drivers and the trucking companies that own the trucks must follow a lot of safety standards to minimize accidents. Still, give them plenty of room while sharing the road to avoid potential accidents.