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TRUCK ACCIDENTS & SAFETY

Posted by: at 12:02 PM on June 12th, 2016

When a truck accident involving a smaller vehicle occurs, the resulting injuries and property damage are often substantial. In fact, about 1 in 10 highway accidents involve a large truck.  There are many potential causes of truck accidents, and oftentimes it is the driver of the truck who is responsible, not the victim in the much smaller vehicle. Victims of accidents must act quickly in order to protect their legal rights after a crash. Part of the necessary actions include identifying the parties responsible for the crash.

When a truck driver acts recklessly or carelessly, the risk of an accident significantly increases. The following are seven examples of how a truck driver’s actions may increase the risk of a crash:

  1. Driving the truck while under the influence of drugs or alcohol

  2. Driving the truck while talking on the phone or texting

  3. Using a fraudulent commercial license

  4. Failing to take sufficient breaks in accordance with federal hours-of-service laws

  5. Ignoring recommended and required truck maintenance

  6. Failing to follow truck safety protocol

  7. Loading heavy cargo improperly on the truck


It's no surprise that when a crash between a large truck and smaller vehicle happens, the occupants of the smaller suffer the vast majority of injuries and deaths.  What may surprise you is that over half of deadly truck crashes tend to occur on major roads other than interstates and freeways (Only about a third of the fatal truck accidents occur on freeways and interstates).


If you were involved in an accident with a large truck, an experienced attorney can help determine if there were any driver related conditions (such as the seven listed above), that may factor into the cause of the accident.  If the truck driver's actions are in some way responsible for your injuries and losses, you are entitled to compensation. It is important, however, to act quickly to protect your legal rights. Injury claims following a truck accident are subject to strict time limitations.


If you or someone you love has been injured in any type of accident, please call us to discuss.  We offer a free consultation in which we can review your accident and determine next steps.