When truck accidents happen, the results are usually devastating for occupants of passenger vehicles. In fact, 11% of all motor vehicle fatalities in 2018 occurred in large truck crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) attributes these deaths to the heightened vulnerability of people in smaller vehicles. On average, commercial trucks weigh 20 to 30 times as much as passenger cars and are much taller. Smaller vehicles can slide underneath trucks in a deadly phenomenon known as “underride crashes.”
Challenges for Large Truck Drivers
Further, driving a truck that weighs up to 80,000 pounds can create unique problems steering, braking, and accidents. Loaded tractor-trailers take longer to stop than passenger vehicles and can struggle to stop at all on wet or slippery roads.
Normally, trucks take 20 to 40% farther than regular cars to stop, but without proper brake maintenance, this discrepancy can be even higher. Other unique risk factors for large trucks include increased vehicle rollovers and jackknife accidents, which happen when the trailer swings and becomes perpendicular to the vehicle’s cab.
Violations and Negligence
Finally, the commercial trucking industry takes a toll on truck drivers, and truck driver fatigue is a known crash risk. In addition to violating federal trucking regulations, drivers and shipping companies can behave negligently in other ways. For example, shipping companies can overload trucks, and truckers can drive under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
What To Do if You Are Involved in a Truck Accident
If you or a loved one has been in a truck accident, chances are you are facing serious injuries or mourning a close personal loss. While filing a lawsuit may be the last thing on your mind, the financial realities of a truck accident can pile up quickly.
To account for medical expenses, missed wages, and other costs, you may want to consider filing a personal injury lawsuit or a wrongful death claim.
Get the Help You Need Today
Taking legal action can be difficult, and it will not change what happened, but it can give you the time, space, and resources you need to recover.
For assistance with your truck accident case, look no further than The Law Offices of Keith J. Nedwick, P.C. Our attorneys have a reputation for results, over 30 years of combined experience, and 24/7 availability.
When you choose our firm, you get an entire team of attorneys dedicated to you and your case.
Call us at (866) 590-8173 to get started or request your free initial meeting online today.