Involved In A Truck Accident?
Car accidents and truck accidents can be very different. This is due to the fact that most truck drivers are employed by a trucking company. This is a very important distinction because legally it can imply that the driver’s employer – the trucking company – may bear legal responsibility for the truck driver’s actions, as well as for the safety of the trucks it owns.
Overview of Truck Accidents
The tragic fact is that the majority of deaths in large truck crashes are passenger vehicle occupants of the vehicle the truck hits. This is due to the vulnerability of people traveling in smaller vehicles. The trucks on our roads today will sometimes weigh over 25 times as much as the regular vehicles we drive. They are longer, taller, and higher off of the ground — which can lead to regular cars being pinned under a truck in one of these types of accidents.
The braking capability of trucks is also a factor in these crashes. Loaded tractor-trailers take 20-40 percent farther than cars to stop, and the discrepancy is greater on wet and slippery roads or with poorly maintained brakes.
Another crash risk is truck driver fatigue. The drivers of large trucks can by federal laws drive as many as 11 hours at one time. With this said, many studies have concluded that often the drivers of these trucks violate the regulations and drive for longer periods of time than what is allowed by law. The consequences of this can be deadly.
Truck Crashes Statistics
Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) revealed that a total of 4,119 people were killed in large truck crashes in just 2 years. Over fifteen percent of these deaths were from occupants of a truck. Over 65 percent were in cars and other passenger vehicles, and the remaining approximately 15 percent were either pedestrians, motorcyclists or those riding bicycles.
The number of individuals who died in truck accidents was over 30% greater in the last 2 years compared to prior to 2010. It’s a tragic fact that the number of those that died in a truck accident is over 50 percent higher than it was just 10 years ago.
Seventy-four percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2019 were in crashes involving tractor-trailers and 28 percent were in crashes involving single-unit trucks. Some crashes involved both a tractor-trailer and a single-unit truck.
Sixty-four percent of large truck occupants killed in multiple-vehicle crashes in 2019 occurred in collisions involving another large truck.
In 2019, large truck crashes involved over ten percent of all moving vehicle occupant deaths and over 20% of moving vehicle deaths when more than one car was involved in a crash.
Fifty-two percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2019 occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways, 32 percent occurred on interstates and freeways, and 15 percent occurred on minor roads.
Forty-eight percent of large truck crash deaths in 2019 occurred from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., compared with 30 percent of crash deaths not involving large trucks.
Seventeen percent of large truck crash deaths in 2019 occurred on Saturday and Sunday, compared with 35 percent of crash deaths not involving large trucks.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
- Mechanical faults: Mechanical defects is the most common cause of truck crashes. Tires, wheels and brakes issues are the most popular.
- Weight of the vehicle: Large trucks weigh much more than a regular vehicle, especially when bearing cargo to full capacity. The total weight surpasses 40 tons, whereas a regular passenger vehicle normally weighs about 2.5 tons. Due to this weight, these trucks take a lot longer to come to a halt than regular vehicles, and all the more so if their cargo is not loaded evenly and properly in the back trailer.
Recent Truck Accident in The Jacksonville Area Include:
1 Dead, 2 Injured After Head-On Collision with Semi-Truck In Duval County
One person was killed and two persons suffered serious injuries after a head-on collision on Interstate 295 after a driver was driving the wrong way, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Authorities said the incident occurred when a 24-year-old man driving a sedan was traveling south in the northbound lane of US I-295 just as it approached Old St. Augustine Road. This is where the head-on accident accord reported the Florida Highway Patrol.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), first responders pronounced the man dead at the scene. The driver of the semi-truck was not injured in the crash. Two other passengers in the car suffered critical injuries and were rushed to the hospital. Information on their current condition is not available at this time.
Officials did not reveal the identity of the victim. No further information on the crash was disclosed but FHP said the incident remains under investigation.
What To Do If You Are Involved in A Truck Accident
The initial step in pursuing a crash involving a truck is to contact an experienced attorney who can help guide you through the many questions that you will have about the legal process and potential compensation for your medical bills and other possible claims. An attorney will investigate to determine who caused the accident and who is responsible. They will review accident reports, speak to witnesses and other evidence to determine accident fault. They will ensure that all filing deadlines are met, including notice requirements for claims against a local, state or federal government.
Accidents involving truck drivers sometimes involve one or more drivers. This means that there can be multiple insurance companies involved. The lawyers at Anidjar & Levine will negotiate with all parties at fault, and their insurance companies, with the goal to reach a settlement agreement without ever having to go to an actual trial. If they cannot reach an agreement that provides you with the compensation that you deserve, they will then pursue your financial recovery in court.
In an accident involving a truck driver? The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Can Help.
For more information please contact us.
Call the Law Firm of Anidjar & Levine at (800) 747-3733 for a free consultation.
