A semi-truck rear-ends a car on I-15. The police report highlights that the truck couldn’t stop in time. Yes, all that seems pretty obvious.
But honestly, that doesn’t answer the most essential question: “Why didn’t it stop?”
Because maybe the driver was exhausted. Perhaps traffic slowed all of a sudden while the driver checked a phone. Or maybe the truck’s brakes had literally needed repairs for weeks.
That’s why the reality and details matter. After all, the cause of the collision can play a big role in revealing who must be held responsible.
And learning what causes trucking accidents can help you avoid and prevent them. So, let’s get into it!
What Makes Truck Accidents Happen in Utah | Top 5 Causes
In my extensive years of experience, I’ve seen plenty of factors causing truck accidents. But as per my observations, the common ones that frequently showed up were these five:
1) Driver Fatigue (When Delivery Schedules Become Dangerous)
A tired driver doesn’t always fall asleep at the wheel. Fatigue can come up in smaller, different ways. i.e.:
- Reacting a second too late
- Drifting between lanes
- Missing a brake light
Not only this, but irregular sleep schedules, long shifts, delivery pressure, and overnight driving—any of these can contribute.
How Fatigue Leads to Truck Accidents
- Delayed reactions → An exhausted driver might notice slowing traffic too late to stop safely.
- Poor judgment → Fatigue can highly interfere with decisions about speed, passing, and following distance.
- Lane departures → Reduced alertness may cause a truck to drift off the roadway or into another lane.
In general, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) restricts property-carrying commercial drivers to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, subject to exceptions and additional rules.
But here’s an important difference: A driver can comply with federal driving-hour limits and still be extremely tired.
Investigators may look into electronic logging devices, trip schedules, dispatch instructions, and other evidence to determine whether fatigue played a role in the crash.
2) Distracted Driving and Dangerous Blind-Spot Mistakes
Imagine that a truck driver looked at a navigation screen while reaching an exit. By the time the driver’s attention returns to the road, a vehicle in front of it has slowed already.
Remember that the distraction doesn’t need to last long every time to create a disastrous situation.
Here are some typical examples:
- Adjusting navigation or specific dispatch equipment
- Looking away from traffic before changing lanes
- Reaching for objects in the truck or eating
- Using a handheld phone or texting
Also, large commercial trucks have significant blind spots. A driver, therefore, who fails to check surrounding traffic before merging might strike a vehicle traveling alongside the trailer.
Federal rules prohibit handheld mobile-phone use as well as texting by commercial drivers, as discussed in the FMCSA’s distracted-driving guidance.
What can help establish distraction? Investigators can examine phone records, witness statements, dashcam footage, and the truck’s movements instantly before impact.
A blind-spot crash isn’t the truck driver’s fault every single time. The question is whether the driver followed reasonable care under that situation.
3) Speeding, Tailgating, and Driving Too Fast for Utah Roads
A truck doesn’t have to exceed the posted speed limit to be traveling dangerously fast. Yes, you heard that right.
Let me explain why…
Consider a loaded tractor-trailer descending a mountain grade while snow starts covering the highway. Even if the driver stays below the speed limit, the truck might be moving too fast to stop without risk.
Still didn’t get it? Let’s see some more common speeding-related problems:
- Following Too Closely: Leaving insufficient space to respond when traffic slows suddenly.
- Poor Weather Adjustments: Failing to decrease speed during rain, ice, snow, or reduced visibility.
- Excessive Speed on Curves: Increasing the risk of overturning or losing control.
- Unsafe Downhill Driving: Reaching steep grades without enough control of speed.
These risks are particularly relevant on Utah highways like I-15 and I-80, where drivers tend to encounter mountain terrain, winter weather, changing lanes, etc.
Besides, Utah Code § 41-6a-601 also requires all drivers to operate at prudent and reasonable speeds for existing conditions.
Federal regulations address dangerous driving conditions, too, under 49 CFR § 392.14.
4) Poor Maintenance and Mechanical Failures
In some cases, the issue starts long before the truck reaches the highway.
A neglected brake inspection, an unresolved steering problem, or a worn tire can all turn an otherwise manageable traffic situation into a disaster.
Mechanical issues that can contribute to truck accidents are:
- Brake Defects → Unexpected failure or Reduced braking performance
- Tire Problems → Blowouts, loss of traction, or tread separation
- Steering Defects → Difficulty responding to hazards or maintaining control
- Lighting Failures → Reduced visibility or inadequate warning to surrounding motorists.
Under 49 CFR Part 396, drivers and motor carriers have repair, inspection, and maintenance responsibilities.
Anyhow, mechanical failure does not automatically indicate someone was negligent.
That being said, a failure caused by neglected maintenance raises quite different questions from one involving a totally unexpected manufacturing defect.
The records matter: Inspection reports, maintenance histories, examinations of failed components, and repair invoices can determine what exactly went wrong.
Responsibility can extend beyond the driver to a motor carrier, manufacturer, or maintenance provider, depending on the evidence.
5) Overloaded Trucks and Improperly Secured Cargo
The cargo of the truck affects how the whole vehicle handles.
When a load unexpectedly shifts, it can change the truck’s balance. Extra weight can also impact handling and braking, especially during sudden maneuvers or turns.
Below are some common cargo-related dangers:
- Unbalanced Loads: Uneven weight distribution that can increase instability
- Inadequate Securement: Cargo shifting or falling from the trailer
- Overloading: Excess weight that may compromise safe vehicle operation
- Poor Loading Practices: Incorrect placement or restraint of heavy material & equipment
The FMCSA’s cargo securement rules establish requirements particularly intended to prevent cargo from falling or shifting during transportation.
One detail people shouldn’t overlook, but they often do, is that “the person driving the truck may not be the same person who loaded it.”
Depending on the circumstances, a trucking company, shipper, or loading contractor may have contributed to the unsafe condition.
Other Factors That Can Contribute to Truck Accidents
The top 5 causes above are not the only possibilities. Investigators might also uncover:
- Alcohol, drug, or medication-related impairment
- Inadequate driver training
- Unsafe turns or failure to yield
- Aggressive driving
- Roadway hazards or unexpected traffic conditions
Many factors can contribute to the same collision. A speeding truck with very poorly maintained brakes, for instance, may have more than one underlying safety issue.
How Can You Prove What Caused a Truck Accident?
The “visible damage” tells investigators where vehicles collided. However, it doesn’t always explain why.
In short, different causes require different evidence, and here’s a table to help you understand this:
| Suspected cause | Potential evidence |
| Driver fatigue | ELD records, schedules, dispatch communications |
| Distracted driving | Video, phone records, witness accounts |
| Unsafe speed | Available vehicle data, skid marks, reconstruction |
| Mechanical failure | Inspection reports, repair histories |
| Improper cargo loading | Loading documents, photographs, securement records |
Engine control modules and electronic logging devices serve unique purposes. Not all trucks store the same information, and not all records will establish the cause on their own.
Promptly preserving the evidence can make a real, meaningful difference.
Who Can Be Responsible for a Utah Truck Accident?
More than one party tends to be involved in truck accident claims, such as a maintenance contractor, motor carrier, cargo-loading company, and the driver.
Comparative fault can further affect the victim’s ability to recover compensation, as per the Utah Code § 78B-5-818.
Most importantly, identifying a safety violation is not similar to proving that the violation caused the crash and resulting injuries.
At Hernandez Injury Law, the focus must be on understanding the evidence, not just thinking that the truck driver caused everything.
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident in Utah?
Have you ever been involved in a crash with a commercial truck? If yes, you need to follow these steps after the incident:
Step #1. Get medical help and document all your injuries.
Step #2. Report the accident to the police and get any crash information you can.
Step #3. Preserve important witness details, photographs, and personal records.
Step #4. Keep all your medical bills and records of related expenses safe.
Step #5. Talk to an expert Utah truck accident attorney about protecting evidence that may be overwritten or lost.
A collision might happen in seconds, but understanding what caused it can require examining decisions made days, hours, or even weeks earlier.
That’s exactly where a careful investigation takes place. If you are doubtful about what led to your accident, Hernandez Injury Law can help you explore the evidence and understand your legal options.