What Makes Truck Drivers Have Crashes? The Real Causes in Wichita & Western Kansas

Authored by Bradley A. Pistotnik — well-known and highly experienced Wichita truck accident lawyer; author of the book “Truck Accidents Kill,” and an authoritative speaker on trucking safety.

Coverage area: Wichita Metro (Sedgwick County and surrounding communities) and “Western Kansas,” defined here as any county west of a north–south line approximately 10 miles east of Topeka, bounded by Nebraska to the north, Oklahoma to the south, and Colorado to the west.

Top Contributing Factors We See

• Fatigue & hours pressure — FMCSR §395.3 limits driving to 11 hours within a 14-hour window after 10 hours off; §392.3 prohibits driving while fatigued.
• Excessive speed & unsafe following — §392.2 requires compliance with Kansas speed law; §392.6 bars schedules that require speeding.
• Inattention & distraction — KDOT lists “Driver Inattention–General” as the #1 contributing circumstance statewide in 2023.
• Equipment defects & skipped maintenance — Part 396 requires systematic inspection/repair/maintenance; brakes/tires commonly appear in crash litigation.
• Training & qualification gaps — Part 391 sets minimum driver qualifications; hiring/monitoring failures can put unfit drivers on the road.

Kansas & U.S. Data Points

• Kansas 2023: 3,478 crashes involved heavy/large trucks; 84 people died. (KDOT Crash Facts)
• Kansas 2023: The top five contributing factors include inattention and too fast for conditions. (KDOT Crash Facts)
• U.S. 2023: 5,472 people were killed in large-truck crashes; 70% were occupants of other vehicles. (NHTSA Large Trucks 2023)

What We Investigate First in a Wichita/Western KS Case

• HOS/ELD data, dispatch notes, and supporting documents retained for 6 months
• ECM downloads; dashcam/roadway video; 911/CAD; witness interviews
• Carrier maintenance files, DVIRs, annual inspection records
• Company policies, training records, corrective-action history

Early preservation is critical because key records have limited retention windows unless litigation holds stop routine deletion.

Reporting Unsafe Truck Operations in Kansas

• Immediate danger on Kansas highways: call *47 to reach Kansas Highway Patrol (*KTA on Turnpike); call 911 for emergencies. For aggressive-driver reporting: KHP Aggressive Drivers.
• Within Wichita city limits: report patterns to WPD's Traffic Complaint portal; non-emergency: 316-268-4111.
• County roads: Sedgwick County Sheriff traffic safety hazard/issue form.
• Unsafe commercial motor vehicles: file with FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database or NCCDB portal.

If you or a loved one has been hurt by a commercial truck in Wichita or Western Kansas, call Bull Attorneys for a free, confidential consultation. We move fast to preserve electronic evidence and build the strongest case. Call 24/7: 316-684-4400.