Roads are becoming dangerous every year. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports more than 4,000 people die annually in large truck and bus crashes. Alarmingly, numbers continue to rise year after year, with most collisions occurring on freeways where drivers travel at significant speeds, with many violating laws regarding miles per hour.
The physics are simple yet highly tragic. When a large commercial truck/tractor-trailer collides with a much smaller passenger vehicle, the most damage will be done to drivers and passengers in the car.
The FMCSA regulates the trucking industry while establishing qualifications, setting limits on hours a driver spends behind the wheel, and periodic equipment inspections. However, they are falling woefully and dangerously short. Conversely, trucking companies are pressuring drivers to keep working, even after exceeding the regulations regarding the number of hours.
Potentially fatal factors
Various factors play a role in truck accidents that include:
- Driver fatigue
- Driver error
- Driver impairment from alcohol or drugs
- Passenger car drivers
- Mechanical failure
- Inadequately loaded cargo
- Road conditions
- Severe weather
Victims of truck crashes face significant challenges when pursuing a personal injury claim. Unlike an accident involving two cars, more than one defendant is likely due to the sheer complexities that include:
- Government entities
- Truck companies, including owners
- Manufacturers of equipment
- Maintained companies
- Cargo-loading businesses
The aftermath of a commercial truck colliding with a smaller vehicle requires immediate medical attention. In addition, representation from a skilled personal injury lawyer with insight into the complex aspects of these types of accidents.