Steep downgrades pose problems for commercial truck drivers due to the excessive weight, which can sometimes reach up to 80,000 pounds depending on the vehicle. Not only can it pose risks for the driver, but it may also create dangerous conditions for other motorists on the road. If you're wondering how much steep downgrades affect commercial drivers, know that it might be more than you realize. This is why a truck accident lawyer commonly sees incidents related to downgrades.
Gravity Isn't on the Truck's Side
When you think of a person riding a bike downhill, you know they don't have to work as hard to get down the hill because gravity naturally pulls them downward. That same concept applies to trucks going downhill. Gravity pulls the truck, causing it to gain momentum. To compensate, a truck driver must slow down beforehand to avoid the vehicle accelerating too quickly. If not, the truck can gain too much speed, and just tapping the brakes won't be enough to slow down or stop.
Even Engine Brakes Can't Work Effectively with Too Much Speed
Many trucks have engine brakes, which provide additional support when braking for large trucks. This brake system changes what happens inside the engine’s cylinders to slow the truck. It can be used with downshifting to a lower gear to better control the vehicle's speed.
However, even this backup braking system will struggle to help the vehicle slow down if the speed is too high when traveling downhill. As a result, it's possible that the truck won't slow down or stop in time when traveling on steep downgrades.
Excessive Brake Use Can Lead to Overheating
Particularly down a long, steep grade, a truck driver can find themselves using the brakes frequently or excessively to control speed. The friction can cause the brakes to overheat. When the heat builds up too quickly, the brakes will become hot and may not work as well as they should.
This is known as brake fade, and it's a reason truck drivers are taught to avoid depending on their service brakes only when traveling down a lengthy slope. To combat the problem, a truck driver should use other methods to control speed so their brakes aren't working too hard.
What the Truck Is Hauling Can Change Handling
The cargo in the truck, including how much it weighs and how it's distributed, can change how it handles. That same truck will respond differently when it's empty compared to when it's full or half full.
How someone loads the cargo and secures it can impact the stability of the truck, particularly how it brakes and turns. When the cargo isn't distributed evenly, it can affect the truck's balance, making it more difficult to control.
Moreover, the items can shift while the truck is in motion when someone doesn't secure the load, and this can alter the truck's center of gravity. As a result, the driver could struggle to change lanes, make sudden stops, or take turns. For these reasons, a truck driver could potentially cause an accident by not being aware of these factors or compensating appropriately for them.
Road Conditions Can Make Matters Worse
Road conditions caused by weather, including snow, ice, and rain, can make descending a steep grade trickier because there's less traction. Poor visibility caused by fog, as well as debris on the road or heavy traffic, adds to the challenges for truck drivers.
If a truck driver is inexperienced with different road conditions, there's an even greater chance of an accident.
Curves Can Make the Downgrade Harder to Navigate
Not every downgrade consists of a straight road. Sometimes, in addition to the grade, the road has twists and curves along the way that can make the descent even trickier to navigate. The truck is pulling forward as a result of gravity, and a heavy load can increase momentum even further.
A driver could take a turn too quickly and lose control. The truck could also tip over when the driver is going too fast and takes a turn.
Who's at Fault?
Who's responsible for an accident involving a commercial vehicle and a steep downgrade depends on the situation, which a truck accident attorney will determine. In some cases, it's the driver's fault, such as if they were traveling too fast for the conditions or didn't brake properly. It could also be their fault if they failed to have the vehicle under control or weren't in the appropriate gear.
In some cases, the trucking company is the responsible party if inadequate maintenance, training, or loading practices played a role in the incident. It could also be the vehicle or parts manufacturer that's responsible if there was a defect in a component.
The government, township, borough, or other entity responsible for maintaining the roadway could be liable for the accident if the roads weren't properly maintained, such as if the roads weren't plowed or repaired.
Another motorist could be the reason for an accident. For instance, someone could take a turn too sharply, and the truck driver may need to swerve to avoid a collision, possibly creating a dangerous situation for other motorists on the road. The cargo loaders could be to blame if they didn't load the truck properly. For some accidents, one party isn't solely liable because multiple factors played a role.
A steep downgrade can be a hazard for truck drivers, whether they're hauling a heavy load or not. The truck driver must take special precautions and account for road conditions. At times, they may be in a situation where the accident was unavoidable no matter what they did. If you're involved in an accident with one, an experienced truck accident lawyer like the attorneys at Barrera Law Group LLC will perform a thorough investigation and get to the bottom of what happened to see if you're entitled to compensation.