The trucking industry in the United States is consistently on the rise despite the fact that faster and newer methods of transport are being invented each day. Whether in your area or cross-country, vehicle transportation is just one of one of the most appropriate ways to distribute goods, with about 70 percent of all items reaching their locations via some sort of truck.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Security Administration (FMCSA), roughly 500,000 accidents involving big trucks were reported to the police in 2018, with over 4,000 fatal and over 100,000 causing injury to persons involved. As the majority of people know, driving on the highway is dangerous, particularly when 10,000-pound trucks and cars add to the mix, inevitably leading to disaster. However, oftentimes accidents with big trucks occur in rural areas and particularly account for more than 50 percent of the totality! One must keep in mind the possibility of an accident on both ends of the spectrum— the truck operators and the vehicle operators. Practically any experienced vehicle driver can remember circumstances on the road when they became worried while near a large truck. The crucial thing to remember is the fundamentals all of us learn in driver's education class and the undivided attention needed when driving any type of automobile for the security of ourselves, our passengers, and others on the road.
Big trucks present dangers to themselves and others when traveling; however, what lies in the cargo of a big truck may enhance the risk of injury as well. For example, big trucks carry dangerous products like harsh chemicals that are highly combustible when exposed to heat. Additionally, big trucks typically transport physically unsafe materials like large wood logs, steel beams, and even colossal machinery. In the event of a crash, these materials may cause disastrous results that truck operators risk every day while on the road. To elaborate, over 50 percent of reported truck accidents released dangerous and explosive material, with another large chunk of accidents leading to injuries or towaways. An additional aspect to consider is the sheer weight of a truck in relation to the basic laws of physics. For instance, when traveling at high speeds (over 50 miles per hour), normal vehicles need a certain amount of distance and time to stop completely, even when slamming on the brakes.
On the other hand, big trucks carry such heavy loads, ranging from 10 to 40 tons, which requires them an even greater distance and time to come to a complete stop. It is physically impossible for a car traveling on the highway to stop on a dime and foolish to think a big truck can do the same. Part of the reason collisions with big trucks trigger so much damage lies within the large quantity of pressure upon impact due to such heavy loads. Big trucks list their most damaging collisions as those which occur with various other cars on the road. The reason for this may stand to point negligence on one party to explain how the accident happened in the first place. However, it has to be emphasized that the negligence of regular vehicle drivers is equally as likely to occur as the negligence of a big truck operator. In order for a big truck operator to do their job, there are rigorous requirements consisting of testing, both on paper and the roadway, prior to one receiving their license to drive a big truck.
In any scenario involving an accident, it is critical to evaluate the people behind the scenes. According to the FMCSA, roughly 5,000 big trucks were involved in fatal accidents in 2018, and of those accidents, there were 328 individuals 25 years or younger and 294 individuals 66 years or older. This reality shows that (at least in 2018) most big truck drivers involved with fatal accidents were middle-aged; therefore, a lack of life experience or too much life experience for that matter is undependable to use as an explanation for the accidents. One may even conclude that it is more than likely that a middle-aged man possesses more big truck driving experience than most, and certainly more experience on that road than most others on the road. Nonetheless, experience cannot correct poor habits that some drivers (in cars or big trucks) possess when driving.
Fatal crashes entail unfortunate outcomes, and many fatalities on the road lead to the vehicle drivers or passengers not wearing seat belts. Most of the time, there is no explanation of why one fails to wear a seatbelt aside from the fact that they negligently decided or didn’t remember to strap in before driving onto roads and highways. Various other factors explain accidents while driving, such as driver impairment either through drugs or alcohol. As most are aware, driving intoxicated is one of the most dangerous things one can do, period. A countless quantity of studies confirms that impairment of any kind of kind slows the driver's reflexes and prevents them from correcting or adjusting for speedy scenarios on the road that occur almost regularly. Even drivers that lack sleep but proceed driving present a risk for others on the road around them. Unfortunately, this regularly relates to big truck operators because of their high quantities of workloads and shift lengths. The big truck driving industry focuses on the capability to deliver its goods on time. This sets up truck operators for danger by training them to work on small amounts of sleep and large amounts of driving. On the bright side, in recent times, laws have been created for truck companies to limit their drivers' hours and hopefully reduce the number of individuals on the road with little sleep. For example, hour limits each day exist, and the federal government stops big truck drivers from driving more than 14 hrs in a single day after a 10-hour break. Weekly driving time regulations are in place, along with 30-minute driving breaks.
Conditions on the road themselves add to the complexities of driving any type of moving vehicle. As big trucks go across states regularly and sometimes the country, the number of driving conditions they experience increases considerably. Throughout the year, driving conditions decline for those on the road depending on their geographical location at that time. For example, one may assume driving in the summer months is simpler; however, in places like the South, the summer season is storm season, activating large gusts of wind and heavy rains for hours at a time. In addition, in places further North throughout the fall and winter months, snow and ice play a substantial role in causing automobile collisions of all sorts, specifically for big trucks that fall victim to lack of brake control due to their already heavy loads. Even in the Spring months, there are forms of big truck driving that occur on frozen roads, and the melting of these roads kills many big truck drivers annually. Motorists should keep in mind quick tips to keep them informed about the roads they proceed on. For example, a road becomes more unsafe when it first rains than during the rain itself. Also, a tire loses grip on roads that just recently received rainfall that has subsided.
Regulations for big truck drivers stand as the greatest chance to protect both their passengers and others on the road. The weight of a big truck stands as one of the most essential factors to monitor continually. One of the methods that regulators use is weigh-stations, used as exits on the side of interstate travel. While on the interstate, big trucks may get a notification over the radio to pull into the closest weigh station to be examined by state authorities based upon the size of their load. Frequently, big truck businesses overload their trucks to lower the number of trips overall or save money. Nonetheless, these heavier loads cause more stress on the big truck's tires and create a greater risk than benefit. In a staggering study, it was observed that big trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds were associated with a 330 percent increase in crashes that occurred on the road. One can only imagine the damage of a 10,000-pound vehicle falling over or colliding with another moving or stationary object. If a big truck pulls into a weigh station and fails to fall within conformity weight, they might be ticketed and even lose a portion of their load before being allowed to travel back onto the interstate safely. Weigh stations are essential measures taken by each state to protect their drivers and those behind the wheel of big trucks.
Naturally, it stands essential to keep in mind that regular vehicles on the road pose the same threats to truck drivers when they embark on trips under the influence or without adequate sleep. In addition, reckless forms of driving add to large portions of accidents too. Speeding by regular automobile drivers or truck drivers remains the number one explanation behind why these collisions happen, in front of the second most common factor, distracted driving. Sadly, distracted driving has evolved over the last 20 years due to the advancement of technology in our day-to-day lives. Things like mobile phones and tablets packed with video games and social entertainment are taking in the lives of several Americans because of the high volumes of intriguing information in one place. It is just as likely, if not more likely, to see a driver distracted by viewing social networks while driving a car than just texting or talking on the phone alone. The good news about technological advancement is that it takes place in all categories as we remain to advance. For instance, new developments in cars and trucks exist to deter car drivers from operating while distracted by their phones. Apps and newly developed phone settings disable phone notifications from occurring while vehicle drivers are on the road. Overall, the driving world consists of an endless quantity of distractions, but it remains the responsibility of both car and truck motorists to avoid participating in these harmful activities simultaneously.
Unfortunately, trucking accidents occur daily, and it remains our job to keep you informed on the factors that play a part in these terrible occasions. The more informed you are, the better you can prepare to act or react to a potentially life-changing event near you. Although they are common, trucking accidents ought not to be seen as usual. It is up to us to practice driving as safely as possible for our own health and the health of those around us. If you find yourself or somebody you care about in the midst of a trucking accident, we may be able to help. Trucking accidents might stand tall due to their repercussions, but we vow to stand taller to get you the knowledge and help you need. Here at The Cochran Firm, we stand to represent both standard vehicle operators AND big truck operators because ALL lives are valued equally.
The attorneys at The Cochran Firm are among the nation’s most successful and tenacious attorneys. When navigating through the legal process, you deserve to have an experienced attorney by your side. The Cochran Firm attorneys know how to fight for you.
Here at The Cochran Firm, our experienced attorneys are ready to help you or someone you love pursuing a truck accident claim. Our attorneys work closely with each of our clients using pooled resources and their access to legal expertise to ensure the most effective legal representation available is provided.
You need the help of an experienced truck accident lawyer who has proven successful results in other similar cases to guide you through the process and help you to receive the monetary damages you are entitled to under the law. At The Cochran Firm, we have the offices, the experience, the results, and the resources to aid clients throughout the United States. Please contact the wrongful death attorneys at The Cochran Firm today for your free, no-obligation initial consultation today.
