Truck Accidents

Truck accidents occur across the US each year, causing serious injuries and claiming thousands of lives.

Fatal Accidents Involving Large Trucks

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 4,714 people died in large truck crashes in 2021. Sixteen percent of those who died were truck occupants, 68 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 15 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists. The number of people who died in large truck crashes was 50 percent higher in 2021 than in 2009, when it was the lowest it has been since the collection of fatal crash data began in 1975. The number of truck occupants who died was 68 percent higher than in 2009.

Accidents involving commercial trucks are much more likely to result in serious injuries and death. If you or a loved one has been in injured as a result of a truck accident, the truck accident lawyers at Truck Accidents Law Firm can assist you with your claim. If you have been involved in a truck accident, the trucking company and its attorneys may offer you unfavorable settlement terms. Truck Accident Law Firm attorneys will work hard to represent your interests. Victims of truck accidents may be entitled to financial compensation for medical expenses, lost salary, and the physical and emotional damage they suffer.

Factors Involved in Truck Crashes

Truck accidents have a variety of causes. Trucking companies, in an effort to meet tight delivery deadlines and maximize their profits, may cut corners with safety. Because of their size and weight, large trucks are not easily maneuverable, and braking and stopping require greater distance than for smaller, lighter vehicles. Trucks are not always well maintained, and tire blowouts can cause a driver to lose control. Drivers sometimes ignore speed limits in an effort to meet unrealistic delivery deadlines and shorten their turnaround time. Drivers stay on the road for too many consecutive hours and fatigue and boredom can diminish their alertness and driving skill. These conditions can combine to lead to tragic accidents.

The major causes of truck accidents include:

• Excessive speed
• Poor driving
• Improperly loaded cargo
• Driver fatigue
• Unsafe road conditions
• Equipment defects (tires, brakes)
• Truck design defects
• Poor maintenance
• Inadequate or obstructed signage
• Road construction

Studies show that truck drivers are more likely to be involved in a crash after long hours of driving. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration implemented new Hours of Service rules for truck drivers in 2012. Surveys show that many drivers of large trucks violated the old regulations on hours of service. The revised Hours of Service regulations allow truck drivers to drive 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off-duty. Truck drivers may not drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on-duty, following 10 hours off-duty. Truck drivers may not drive after being on-duty for 60 hours in a seven-consecutive-day period or 70 hours in an eight-consecutive-day period. The on-duty cycle may be restarted whenever a driver takes at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty.

In 2023, notable transformations include the introduction of electronic logging devices (ELDs) and the enforcement of Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. Additionally, a significant alteration involves the initiation of an updated drug and alcohol testing program. The newly established rules by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) aim to enhance safety within the trucking industry.

The disparity in size between trucks and other vehicles on the road means that passengers in cars, motorcycles and even SUVs suffer devastating and often fatal injuries in a collision with a truck.

Some injured victims may need surgeries, long-term rehabilitation or even lifetime care. A fair settlement can help accident victims receive fair settlements that will help them achieve and maintain the best possible quality of life. Where a fatality occurs, an experienced attorney can help a family that may have been left without their major means of financial support.