When it comes to trucks and the accidents that they are involved in, the statistics are grim. Every year there are an average of 400,000 truck accidents on America’s roads, and of those 400,000 there are nearly 5,000 deaths that result – and in most cases the person who is killed is the driver of a passenger car that was struck. A dedicated truck accident attorney should be able to help you and your family receive compensation if you have been injured in a truck accident.
Commercial trucks weigh at least 10,000 pounds and can be 75 feet long, so it is no wonder that 12% of the accidents that they are involved in end with at least one fatality. Trucks that are driven recklessly or at a high rate of speed become deadly weapons for those with whom they share the road.
Causes of Truck Accidents
In addition to the devastation that trucks can cause as a result of their sheer size, the blame for truck accidents is often attributed to negligence or recklessness on the part of either the truck driver. The owner of the vehicle can also be responsible if it is found that the truck is not in safe working condition or not well maintained.
Some of the most common causes of truck accidents that are attributed to the truck driver include the following:
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Driver who is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
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Driver who is distracted by cell phone or other electronic device such as a GPS, television, radio or computer
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Driver who is operating the vehicle in a reckless manner, driving above the speed limit or not paying attention
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Driver who is operating the vehicle beyond the allowable number of hours, and who is sleep deprived or fatigued
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Reversing vehicle without first checking to determine whether it is safe
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Improperly secured loads
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Turning too sharply and at too high a rate of speed, resulting in jack-knifed trailer or vehicle overturns
In some instances, the companies that own the truck are found to share responsibility for causing an accident involving a truck. This is particularly true where the owners put undue stress or responsibility on the driver to meet unrealistic deadlines or do not provide appropriate maintenance for the vehicle.
Frightening Statistics
One in every eight vehicle-related deaths in the United States involves a truck; in fact, a person dies in the United States every 16 minutes as a result of an accident with a truck, and the overwhelming majority of those deaths occur to the driver of the passenger vehicle involved rather than the truck driver. Contact Texas truck injury lawyers for assistance in your crash today.