Large trucks are involved in fewer accidents compared to passenger vehicles. However, they tend to cause a disproportionately larger number of accidents that result in catastrophic injuries and fatalities. Big rigs tend to cause more damage because of their size and weight. These truck accidents also occur because some truck drivers are inexperienced or because they deliberately violate laws and regulations that have been put in place to ensure the safety of everyone on the roadway.
Common Truck Driver Violations
Here are some of the most common examples of unsafe practices commercial truck drivers engage in, which may result in major injuries and fatalities:
Fatigued driving: Commercial truck drivers spend long hours behind the wheel and many of them violate federal hours-of-service regulations (HOS rules), which require commercial vehicle drivers to get adequate rest before getting on the road. According to current laws, truck drivers are required to maintain electronic logs showing their breaks and time on the road.
Earlier, they were required to keep paper logs, which were easily manipulated. There have also been studies that show that a number of truck drivers have sleep apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Those who have sleep apnea tend to feel tired and drowsy even when they get a full night’s rest.
Distracted driving: Driver distractions are believed to be the second most common cause of truck accidents. It’s not just talking on the cell phone or texting (both of which are illegal) that may cause truck accidents, but also other activities such as eating, drinking, grooming, checking the GPS, adjusting the radio or temperature controls that may be dangerous. Any activity that takes the driver’s hands off the wheel, eyes off the road or attention away from the act of driving has the potential to cause an accident.
Speeding: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) states that speeding accounts for a majority of large truck rollover accidents. Whether it’s exceeding the posted speed limit or driving at an unsafe speed given traffic and weather conditions, truck drivers tend to violate speed laws often. When a large truck travels at a high rate of speed, it is difficult to stop in time to avoid a devastating rear end collision.
Impaired driving: It is illegal for commercial drivers to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The legal blood alcohol limit for truck drivers and other commercial vehicle operators is 0.04 percent while that limit is 0.08 percent for most drivers of other vehicles. There have been numerous incidents where truck drivers involved in accidents were not only under the influence of alcohol, but also controlled substances such as marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine.
Poor vehicle maintenance: It is the responsibility of both the truck driver and the trucking company to ensure that the vehicle is in good condition. They have the obligation to check vehicle parts such as the tires, brakes, engine, and windshield wipers before getting on the road. Companies are also required to keep vehicle maintenance logs.
If You’ve Been Injured in a Truck Accident
Injured victims of truck 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.
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 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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