Commercial Truck Accidents
A motor vehicle accident involving a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle usually culminates in serious injuries, if not fatalities, to occupants of the passenger vehicle.
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports there were 7,006,408 commercial freight vehicles, 5,264,554 single-unit trucks and 1,741,854 tractors, for a total of in excess of 14,000,000 trucks on U.S. highways in 2007.
Data compiled by the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and Motor Carrier Management Information System reveal there were a total of 195,767 large truck crashes in 2007. Of these, 4,368 were fatal crashes, 136,438 non-fatal crashes and 54,961 injury crashes. The number of injuries reported was 80,752.
The initial points of impact, in descending order, were the front (45.7%), rear (15%), left side (8.4%), right side (4.8%) and other or unknown (0.8%).
Large truck fatal accidents mostly happen in rural areas (68%) on weekdays (78%) during daytime hours (66%). Combination trucks were responsible for 76% of fatal crashes. Additionally, large trucks are more likely to be involved in fatal multi-vehicle crashes.
Of injuries sustained or deaths occurring as a result of collisions with large trucks, 65% were drivers of passenger vehicles, 31% were passengers; 3% were pedestrians and 2% were cyclists.
A list of common causes of truck accidents includes:
· Speeding
· Driving at unsafe speeds due to weather or road conditions
· Failure to yield the right of way
· Aggressive driving
· Driving off the road
· Backing up
· Inadequate training or unlicensed driver
· Drug or alcohol use
· Driver fatigue
· Disobeying safety procedures
· Overweight loads
· Improper loading or shifting of load
· Motor vehicle inspection failure
· Repair or maintenance failure
· Mechanical or brake failure
· Tire blow-outs
· Roll-overs
Trucking companies are regulated by the Federal Government which implements rules and regulations for both commercial trucks and owners. Federal regulations stipulate the amount of hours a driver is permitted to be on the road each day.
A minimum of $750,000 of insurance for bodily injury and property damage is required by Federal law for trucks traveling interstate. As well, most States also require a specific level of insurance for trucks not covered by Federal law.
Additional regulations must be followed by commercial trucks carrying hazardous or inflammable materials, such as placards attached the truck identifying the material and imposing a lesser speed limit.
The average truck driver earns approximately $32,000 a year or $30.3 cents per mile, with an owner/operator making marginally more money. For every dollar of revenue a truck earns, only 4.8 cents is profit. Unfortunately, this leads to many truck owners cutting costs by neglecting necessary maintenance. Drivers are often compelled to speed, drive for longer periods than permissible and drive aggressively in order to earn a better wage.
Truck collisions are often catastrophic because of the sheer size and weight of the commercial vehicles. Occupants of passenger vehicles, pedestrian and cyclists, if they survive, frequently suffer devastating injuries which may affect them for the rest of their lives. Enormous medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional trauma and loss of earning capacity are just a few of the possible consequences. For those that do not survive, their families are further burdened by funeral costs and the catastrophic loss of a loved one.
If the truck owner and/or driver is deemed to be fault for the accident, a lawsuit might be commenced against the driver, the trucking company, trailer owner, shipper and/or the manufacturer of equipment attached to the truck (for example, tires) and/or other parties who share responsibility.
If you have been involved in a truck accident, or lost a loved one due to a truck accident, it is recommended you contact an experienced accident attorney for legal advice on protecting your rights prior to speaking to the truck's insurer.
About the Author:
Attorney Richard Hastings, for the past two and one half decades, has been helping injured clients and families collect millions of dollars in losses ranging from motor vehicle accidents to wrongful death, to medical malpractice. He is the founder of Selectcounsel, LLC, a free service that helps you find one of the best lawyers in your area and is the author of the books "How To Find A Great Lawyer" and "Understanding And Improving The Value Of Your Personal Injury Case." Please visit http://www.SelectCounsel.com to see how they can find you one of the best lawyers in your area for your serious injury or medical malpractice case.