Common Causes of Truck Accidents in San Bernardino

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in San Bernardino

If you’ve been in a truck accident, consulting an experienced attorney can help you understand your legal options and secure compensation. Call 844-844-9119 for a complimentary consultation to discuss your case. In San Bernardino, where commercial trucks are prevalent, understanding liability, which often involves the driver, trucking company, and maintenance providers, is crucial.

San Bernardino is a central hub for freight and logistics in Southern California. With its proximity to major distribution centers, key interstate highways, and dense industrial zones, the city sees a high volume of commercial truck traffic daily. While this fuels the economy, it also increases the risk of devastating truck accidents that can leave victims with life-altering injuries.

Understanding the most common causes of truck accidents in San Bernardino can help drivers stay vigilant and empower victims to seek justice when negligence plays a role. If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash involving a commercial truck, knowing what led to the accident is a critical first step in holding the responsible parties accountable.

Why Truck Accidents Happen More Often in San Bernardino

San Bernardino’s location at the crossroads of Interstate 10, Interstate 215, and State Route 210 makes it a primary corridor for freight entering and exiting the Inland Empire. These roads carry a large volume of 18-wheelers, box trucks, and delivery vehicles on a daily basis. Add in frequent construction, congested interchanges, and a mix of commercial and local traffic, and the conditions are ripe for serious collisions.

Below, we explore the most common causes of truck accidents in the San Bernardino area and how each one contributes to increased risk for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.

1. Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service Violations

One of the leading causes of truck accidents is driver fatigue. Truck drivers often face long shifts and tight deadlines, especially when transporting goods from nearby hubs, such as the San Bernardino Logistics Center or warehouses along Mill Street. Federal regulations limit the number of hours a driver can be on the road, but some companies encourage drivers to exceed these limits or falsify their logs.

Fatigue slows reaction times and impairs decision-making. A tired truck driver may fail to brake in time or swerve into another lane without noticing a nearby vehicle. Crashes caused by fatigue are often catastrophic due to the size and weight of commercial trucks.

2. Speeding and Aggressive Driving

Speeding is a common problem on freeways such as I-10 and I-215, where trucks are often under pressure to meet delivery windows. When a truck travels faster than the conditions allow, it becomes much harder to stop in time, especially in sudden traffic slowdowns. A fully loaded tractor-trailer requires a much longer distance to stop than a standard passenger car.

In some cases, aggressive driving behavior such as tailgating, weaving between lanes, or refusing to yield leads to serious wrecks. Truck drivers operating under stress or fatigue are more likely to take risky actions that put others on the road at risk.

3. Improperly Loaded or Overloaded Cargo

Cargo-related issues are a significant cause of truck accidents in San Bernardino. When a trailer is overloaded or unevenly loaded, the truck becomes unstable. This instability increases the chance of a rollover, jackknife, or loss of control, especially on curves or during emergency braking.

The distribution centers in and around San Bernardino often handle heavy freight, including construction materials, automotive parts, and e-commerce goods. When loading crews fail to secure cargo properly or exceed weight limits, both the driver and the public are put at risk.

4. Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is dangerous in any vehicle, but when a distracted driver is behind the wheel of a multi-ton truck, the consequences can be deadly. Distractions may include texting, using GPS, eating, adjusting the radio, or even checking delivery instructions.

In the fast-moving traffic of downtown San Bernardino or on busy stretches of I-10 near Tippecanoe Avenue, even a momentary lapse in attention can cause a rear-end crash or side-swipe collision. Technology meant to assist drivers, like onboard navigation systems, can also become sources of distraction when not used responsibly.

5. Mechanical Failures and Poor Maintenance

Commercial trucks require regular maintenance to ensure safe operation on the road. When companies cut corners or neglect inspections, mechanical issues such as brake failure, tire blowouts, or steering problems can lead to severe accidents.

Poorly maintained trucks may not be roadworthy, yet still operate on heavily traveled roads near local hotspots such as Inland Center Drive or near industrial parks. Brake failure is hazardous on downhill grades and off-ramps, where a runaway truck can cause multi-vehicle pileups.

6. Impaired Driving and Substance Use

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious threat, even more so when the driver is operating an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle. Although truck drivers are subject to strict federal testing and lower legal limits for blood alcohol content, some still take the risk.

Substance use may involve alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription medications that impair coordination and judgment. When truck drivers use stimulants to stay awake on long hauls, they may also experience dangerous side effects such as overconfidence or hallucinations.

7. Inadequate Driver Training

San Bernardino’s industrial growth has increased demand for drivers. Unfortunately, not all new hires receive proper training. Operating a commercial truck requires more than just a standard license. It takes specialized knowledge of braking, turning, safety checks, and responding to emergencies.

Inexperienced drivers are more likely to make mistakes, such as failing to check blind spots, misjudging stopping distance, or making unsafe lane changes. These errors often result in collisions with smaller vehicles or cause rollovers on high-speed interchanges, such as those connecting I-10 and SR-210.

8. Poor Road Conditions and Weather Hazards

San Bernardino sees a range of road conditions that contribute to truck crashes. Construction zones, potholes, faded lane markings, and debris on the road are all common. These hazards, combined with driver inattention or poor vehicle maintenance, can quickly lead to an accident.

Although Southern California has mild weather, sudden rainstorms can create slick conditions that make it harder for trucks to stop safely. Roads such as Cajon Boulevard or Highland Avenue may become hazardous with little warning, especially when truck tires are worn or brakes are not functioning properly.

Speak With a San Bernardino Truck Accident Lawyer Today

If you were injured in a truck accident in San Bernardino, you may be entitled to significant compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Proving the cause of the crash is essential to building a strong legal case and recovering the full value of your claim.

At Countrywide Trial Lawyers, we are committed to helping victims of truck accidents get justice. Our legal team is familiar with the local roads, companies, and challenges unique to San Bernardino. We fight hard to protect your rights, allowing you to focus on recovery.

Call our team at 844-844-9119 today for a free consultation. Let us help you understand your options, investigate the causes of your accident, and take action against those responsible.