Trucking Remains Deadly Occupation, Fatigue and Distracted Driving Blamed

 Truckers perform one of the nation’s deadliest jobs. According to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2015 alone, 745 truck drivers were killed on the job. Opinions vary on what makes trucking such a dangerous profession. However experts say the biggest danger for commercial truck drivers who are involved in truck accidents are fatigue and inattentiveness or distracted driving.

What the Numbers Show
The BLS study showed that in 2015, truck drivers had a fatal injury rate of 24.7 per 100,000 full-time employees. Other dangerous occupations include logging, fishing and aircraft pilots. The statistics also show that between 2011 and 2015, truck driver fatalities increased by 11.2 percent. Safety experts say this increase may be attributed to a growing economy and a rise in e-commerce that has led to an expansion of freight volumes. Truckers are also more likely to fall sick or get injured compared to other U.S. workers, federal statistics show.
Tired and Distracted Truckers
Tired, distracted or inattentive truck drivers not only put themselves in danger, but also others on the roadway. In fact, it is important to remember that when a large truck gets into an accident, it is usually the occupants of other vehicles who are more seriously injured or killed than the truck driver involved. In 2016, two-thirds of people who died in truck-related collisions were occupants of passenger vehicles hit by trucks, according to the IIHS’ Highway Loss Data Institute.
New laws relating to electronic logging devices (ELDs) have been introduced to combat the serious problem of truck driver fatigue. A federal mandate went into effect last month requiring carriers and independent truck drivers to install ELDs in trucks to track driving time. Regulators believe the devices will help enforce a federal hours-of-service rule that limits truckers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour workday.
Federal safety regulators hope truck accident fatalities will drop as a result of this new mandate. There is no question that a smartphone-obsessed society has led to more distracted driving crashes. Safety advocates say truck drivers need better training to reduce deaths and injuries caused by distracted driving.
Liability in Truck Accidents
There are a number of parties that can be held liable for injuries, damages and losses caused by truck accidents. In addition to the truck driver, the truck’s owner, trucking company and/or other negligent parties may also be held liable for injuries and damages. Victims of these types of accidents can 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 victims can also seek compensation by filing what is known as a wrongful death lawsuit.
As an injured victim of a truck accident, it is important that you file a police report, collect vital information and evidence from the accident scene, preserve the evidence and get prompt medical attention. An experienced New York truck accident lawyer can help you accomplish a number of things in this regard including obtaining a copy of the police report, helping collect evidence and preserving crucial evidence such as truck driver logs, vehicle maintenance records, driver cell phone records, etc. by sending out a spoliation letter. This type of letter will help ensure that these important pieces of evidence are preserved before they are lost or destroyed.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent 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 46 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 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.
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 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://www.trucks.com/2017/12/26/trucking-deadliest-jobs/