Trucking Accidents
Big Trucks. Big Damage.
Trucking accidents are especially devastating because they are more likely to result in serious injury or death than a typical motor vehicle accident. Because semi-trucks, tractor trailers, or other commercial vehicles can weigh over 30,000 pounds – compared to a passenger vehicle that weighs around 3,500 pounds – a passenger vehicle is no match for the brute force of a semi-truck, tractor trailer or other commercial vehicle.
Semi-trucks, tractor trailers, or other commercial vehicles cause catastrophic injuries and substantial losses in even minor crashes. Additionally, the rules and regulations for truck drivers differs vastly than that of a normal motor vehicle on the road. However, the truck drivers and companies involved have powerful insurance companies that often deny claims from people who have been injured. Get Your Free Consultation
What Causes Trucking Accidents?
Passenger vehicles are at a severe disadvantage when they crash with semi-trucks, tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles on the roadways. In large part to their size and speeds, drivers of semi-trucks, tractor trailers, and other large commercial vehicles do not have the line of sight or agility to maneuver easily on the roads and highways. The driver usually sits high up in a trucking cab while a passenger vehicle is much lower to the ground. Stopping, turning, and changing lanes are often high-risk moves that if executed unsafely can cause devastating collisions. The results are catastrophic and sadly they are often deadly. Those injured in a Trucking Accident may suffer from injuries ranging from brain damage, paralysis, compound fractures, and often death. Some of the most common causes of Trucking Accidents are:
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Driver Fatigue
Truck driving is a high demand, time sensitive, highly stressful job. Often times, trucking companies require their drivers to deliver goods to faraway places within a short time period. This means that a truck driver is often driving long distances at high speeds with little to no breaks or proper rest. Despite the many laws and regulations regulating how often a truck driver can operate, many truck drivers and companies do not follow these rules resulting in fatigued drivers on the road.
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Distracted Driving
Distracted driving has become an epidemic on our roadways and is now the leading cause of car accidents for the past several decades. Whether it’s cell phones or eating, sometimes truck drivers do not pay attention to the roadway while they are driving.
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Alcohol & Drugs
Trucking as an occupation has an extremely high rate of drug and alcohol abuse among its drivers. In part to the high demands of a truck driving, many truck drivers will resort to amphetamines to stay awake and alert while driving.
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Speeding & Overtaking
Sometimes a truck driver is behind schedule and going the posted speed limits in the delivery route will result in a late delivery. The pressure to make timely deliveries and may make a truck driver to drive faster than what is safe for the conditions. This is especially true if a driver is fearful that they will lose their job if the delivery is not made in time.
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Bad Weather Conditions
Bad weather can happen anywhere at any time. Whether it is wind, rains, or snow, it takes special experience to handle a semi-truck, tractor trailer, or other commercial vehicle to drive safely in weather conditions. It’s crucial that a truck driver knows how to operate their truck in these conditions to prevent skidding, sliding and jack-knifing on the roadways.
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Poor Training & Maintenance
There are many regulations and requirements in the training of truck drivers before they drive a commercial vehicle. Despite these standards, many drivers are allowed to drive without proper training or experience. The trucking company is also required to inspect the truck before it goes on the road. Often, short cuts and blind eyes are turned to maintaining these expensive trucks so that the trucks can stay on the road to make deliveries on time.
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Improper Cargo Load
Each load on a semi-truck, tractor trailer, or other commercial vehicle must follow strict guidelines as to the weight, size, and length of cargo. If a truck is carrying hazardous or dangerous material such as fuel, there are even stricter regulations they must follow. Despite this, many trucking companies fail to follow the rules of proper cargo loading and cargo can tip over, spill out, catch fire, or even cause the truck to handle erratically. This could result in catastrophic crashes with deadly results.
What Should I Do If I’m In A Trucking Accident?
First, don’t panic. Whether its cars, motorcycles, boats, trucks, buses, trains, or commercial vehicles, we handle Trucking Accident cases every day in our offices nationwide. We know the ins and outs of the insurance business and the tricks they often employ to get you to take little to nothing after an accident. We will always fight to get the money you deserve. The three most important things to do after an accident are:
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1) Stay Calm At The Scene
A Trucking Accident is an extremely traumatic event. Many times, our instinct to panic and start talking takes over. It’s important that you remain as calm as possible during this time so that you can collect all of the evidence you may need to prove you were not at fault for the accident. This includes taking photographs of both vehicles, getting the insurance information of the person who hit you, and getting their driver’s license. Do not admit fault at the scene, but always tell the truth. If the police arrive, cooperate to the extent possible but do not make any admissions. Get Your Free Consultation
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2) Seek Medical Attention
The most important thing for you to do after being in a Trucking Accident is to seek medical treatment immediately. Although you may feel fine after the initial accident, many times you will not know the extent of your injuries until days and weeks later when your adrenaline wears off and your body adjusts to the trauma of the crash. Many injuries such as herniated discs in the neck and back will not be realized until weeks and months later and only show up on an MRI well after the injury. That’s why it is important to document the accident and injuries immediately and make sure you are getting the best health care possible. Get Your Free Consultation
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3) Contact an Attorney
Finally, it is important to call an attorney for a free, no obligation consultation. Insurance companies do not like it when you “lawyer up” because they know they will no longer have the opportunity to trick you into taking little to nothing for your case. The insurance companies will try to scare and intimidated you into taking a quick and easy settlement. Don’t fall for their traps. You owe it to yourself and to your family to get maximum recovery for your injuries. Get Your Free Consultation
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Filing Insurance Claims
Insurance companies are not your friend and they are not in business to pay out claims. Quite the opposite, insurance companies often “low ball” or straight out deny legitimate claims. The other party’s insurance company may call you as soon as the next day after the accident knowing you are shocked, scared, and injured. Beware. Before talking to an insurance company after an accident, understand that anything you say or do can and will be held against you later. You are under no obligation to talk to the other party’s insurance company although they may tell you that if you don’t, they can’t pay your claim. This is a trap that the insurance company wants you to fall for so they can use it against you later. This is why it is important to talk to an attorney before talking to any insurance company or making your claims.
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Pursuing A Trucking Accident Case
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you deserve get the best representation possible. At Yanni Law, we never charge for consultations and only take a fee if we win your case. You pay no money up front and we only take a fee if we win your case. Having the right lawyer in your corner can be the difference between getting fair compensation for your injuries or taking little to no money that does not represent the harms and losses you have suffered in the accident. We will fight to get you compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, property damage, and more. These cases are subject to strict timelines and statutes of limitations vary by state and injury type, so it is important that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
