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Tag: truck accident lawyer

What to Know about Truck Accidents

Written by kwmlaw on . Posted in Kelly & West News.

Semi-truck accidents, or accidents involved an 18-wheeler, are more common than you might guess. After all, millions of trucks drive our highways and Interstates each day, hauling food and goods across the country, including through North Carolina. 

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 4,657 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes in 2017 (the most recent year available). 

The number of accidents involving trucks is going up. According to the most recent report: 

  • The number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes increased 10 percent from 2016 to 2017, from 4,251 to 4,657. 
  • The large truck involvement rate (large trucks involved in fatal crashes per 100 million miles traveled by large trucks) increased 6 percent, from 1.48 to 1.56.  
  • The number of large trucks involved in injury crashes increased by 5 percent, from 102,000 to 107,000.  
  • The number of large trucks involved in property damage only crashes increased by 3 percent, from 351,000 to 363,000.  

 

Truck accidents tend to cause a lot more damage due to the size of the vehicle. Often those hurt or killed are passengers or drivers in other vehicles, again due to the truck’s enormity. Furthermore, there are usually more people involved, including the driver, the trucking company, and the drivers of other cars. 

 

Common causes of these accidents include: 

 

  • Loss of control, which may be caused by speeding or inattention 
  • Rear-end collisions, sometimes caused by the driver of another vehicle stopping short in front of a truck
  • Running out of lane space 
  • Overtired drivers and distracted drivers

Not all trucking companies and drivers are doing things wrong. But many cases over the years have shown that poorly maintained vehicles, overloaded trucks, and overtired drivers contribute to these accidents. Plus, today, it’s common for drivers to be distracted by phones and screens. 

 

Some small car accidents may not require an attorney, but if you are involved in a truck accident, it’s critical to get legal help. The differences in these accidents, those involved, and the insurance tends to be more complicated — and the damages tend to be severe. 

You can learn more about semi-truck accidents with our free download. Click the red bar on the right side of this page for the free info sheet. Or, contact us as soon as possible after an accident involving a semi-truck so we can gather essential evidence.

Truck Accidents

Written by kwmlaw on . Posted in Areas of Experience, Personal Injury Lawyer and Legal Services.

Truck Accident Lawyer

If you have traveled on any major highways in the past months, you have probably noticed the astonishing increase in truck traffic. The records of trucking companies reveal that commercial trucks cram onto the highways, jockeying for position among passenger cars and rush to complete their routes on time. The trucks are often loaded to capacity, sometimes poorly maintained, and frequently driven by truckers with serious safety deficiencies. An astonishing number of these drivers are fatigued, under the influence of medication or drugs, or medically disqualified to drive a truck. This means truck accidents are imminent. Federal and state laws set up extensive requirements for trucking companies and their drivers. Trucking companies may violate these laws to some extent in a rush to make a profit. Many times these unsafe practices converge into deadly accidents.

If you were involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer, you should contact a competent personal injury attorney immediately. If you do not contact an attorney quickly, you may lose important evidence in your case.

Driving Safely Among Trucks

When you are driving near an 18-wheeler, consider these safety tips to avoid truck accidents:

  • Give the truck plenty of space in front. The average stopping distance for a large truck at 60 miles per hour is 451 feet.
  • Do not travel alongside a truck any longer than normal.
  • If a car stops or slows suddenly in front a truck, the truck driver is likely to whip over into the adjoining lane.
  • If you see unsafe driving, always report it at once either to the phone number located on the back of the truck or to the police. You have a duty to yourself and others to get
    unsafe drivers off the road.

If you would like to talk with an experienced and caring truck accident attorney, please contact us.