Truck Accidents

Every year, about 1 in 10 highway deaths occurs in a crash involving a large truck. Vehicular accidents involving large trucks, such as 18 wheelers, are often more dangerous than your run of the mill fender bender because of the sheer size and weight of the truck. In fact, in 2014, more than 3,500 people were killed in truck accidents according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Fatality statistics show a very important point of reference: almost 70% of the people killed in truck accidents in 2014 were passenger vehicle occupants. This is in stark contrast to the 16% of fatalities in large truck accidents being occupants of the large truck. What is important about this data is the fact that it shows how dangerous large truck accidents can be, especially for people driving normal cars who have to share the road with large trucks.

As mentioned previously, the size and weight of large trucks (often 20-30 times more heavy than cars) increases the dangers and severity of the injuries that people involved in large truck accidents can suffer. The IIHS’ Highway Loss Data Institute also states that truck braking capability, which often requires 20-40% farther than cars to stop, can be a factor in truck crashes.

Passenger car occupants involved in an accident with a large truck can suffer many types of injuries, including bone fractures, spinal cord injuries, abdominal injuries, or even death. Further, sometimes the severity of a person’s injuries is not clear immediately after the accident. This is why it is so vitally important to not say anything about the extent of your injuries to the truck driver or to their insurance company if you are ever involved in a large truck accident.

Some potential causes of large truck accidents include driver fatigue, improper maintenance of the truck, distracted driving, and driver inexperience to name a few. Although these are all possible causes, the most common cause of the ones listed is driver fatigue. Many times, large truck drivers get paid based off of how many miles they drive, incentivizing them to drive as far as they can even if they are exhausted. Obviously, this can (and does) lead to accidents, and is something that the driver of the truck should be held accountable for.

The attorneys at the Merman Law Firm have years of experience representing victims of large truck accidents and recovering millions of dollars on their behalf. Our goals when we represent our clients are 1) to get you the highest recovery we can for your injuries and 2) to punish the trucking companies and drivers for not being safe when they are on the road.

Attorney Derek Merman handles every case with care, compassion, and unrivaled advocacy for his clients. The Merman Law Firm works with a team of some of the best experts in the country to maximize your recovery. If you or a loved one have been injured in a large truck accident, call the Merman Law Firm today for a free case evaluation.

Sources:

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/large-trucks/fatalityfacts/large-trucks

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts-2014

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/congress-made-trucking-deadlier_us_56fd6f92e4b0a06d58052ee8

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812246.pdf