Families of those who died in large truck accidents are lobbying Congress for new safety requirements to address an increase in fatal truck accidents. The husband of 42-year-old Sarah Langenkamp who was struck and killed by a flatbed truck while riding a bike in Montgomery County, Maryland, held a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol recently asking legislators to pass safety regulations. No charges were filed against the driver in that deadly crash.
Surge in Truck Accident Deaths
Members of the Truck Safety Coalition supported the family pleading for what
they call “critical truck safety” reforms as they released a report of the Deadliest Truck Crash States in the United States. Even though truck accidents occur in all states, the deadliest states according to the report are South Dakota, Nebraska, Arkansas and Montana.
Advocates are seeking mandates for trucks of certain sizes to have rear and side underride guards to prevent smaller vehicles from getting trapped under the trucks. Such accidents often result in gruesome injuries and fatalities. Advocates are also asking that automatic emergency braking and driver-assistance technology be required on commercial motor vehicles. The legislation is supported by Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, and other Democrats in the House.
Advocates are still trying to get more support in the U.S. Senate where some lawmakers are opposing the new restrictions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) deadly accidents involving at least one truck increased 13% between 2020 and 2021 — to about 5,600. Numbers show truck accident deaths have surged 66% since 2009, costing victims and taxpayers about $180 billion. Safety advocates are also calling on U.S. officials to strengthen federal guidelines relating to the trucking industry.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
There are a number of parties who can be held liable for truck accidents. The truck driver can be held accountable if the accident happened due to impaired driving, distracted driving, fatigued driving, speeding or other types of negligence (carelessness). The truck driver’s employer – usually a trucking company or a large retailer or corporation – can also be held liable. Generally, the employer is legally responsible for the actions of its employees when they are on the job and may be held liable for negligent hiring and negligent retention of the driver.
In some cases where the truck driver doesn’t own the truck, a claim may be made against the truck’s owner as well. Sometimes, if a third-party company loaded the cargo improperly, this may cause the load to fall off and injure others on the road or cause a jackknifing accident. In such situations, a cargo company may bear liability.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Accidents caused by trucks tend to result in catastrophic or major injuries such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord trauma, internal organ damage, multiple broken bones, amputations, etc. Such injuries usually require significant medical treatment and rehabilitation and leave individuals with temporary or permanent disabilities that prevent them from working and earning an income.
Victims who have been injured in truck accidents may be able to seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families of deceased accident victims may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages such as lost future income, funeral costs, medical expenses, pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, or if you have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident caused by a negligent or careless driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 51 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://wtop.com/congress/2022/09/victims-families-press-congress-for-truck-safety-requirements/