According to the U. S. Department of Transportation, 104,000 people were injured in large truck accidents during 2012 and almost 4,000 people were killed in truck accidents that year. The causes of truck accidents are numerous, but one thing is constant; truck accidents are responsible for catastrophic injuries that often result in permanent life-altering changes for the victims and their families.
Why Do Truck Accidents Cause Catastrophic Injuries?
There are many reasons why truck accidents have a higher incidence of catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths than car accidents. The main reasons are the size, weight and construction of the vehicles. An average truck weighs 80,000 pounds or more when fully loaded. This causes a greater impact than a car-verses-car accident. Trucks are also constructed with much thicker metal than the average car making them stronger and less flexible in a crash compared to the thinner metal that collapses on a car. In addition, trucks are higher than automobiles, so a car is more likely to be crushed under a truck causing catastrophic injury or death to the car’s driver and/or passengers.
What a truck is transporting can also contribute to the seriousness of injuries incurred in a truck accident. For example, trucks transporting hazardous materials such as chemicals or flammable liquids can create a dangerous situation for everyone involved in an accident.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a three-year study entitled Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) that identified several common causes of truck accidents, including:
- Driver fatigue or driving beyond the maximum hours permitted by law
- Overloaded or improperly loaded cargo
- Shifting loads
- Tire blowouts
- Improper maintenance
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Aggressive driving
- Inexperienced truck drivers
- Defective products such as brakes, computer systems or driving controls
- Distracted driving (i.e. use of electronic devices, eating, reaching for something, etc.)
- Adverse weather conditions
The best way to avoid being involved in a truck accident is to be alert when driving or biking near one of these large vehicles.
Contact an Experienced Long Beach Truck Accidents Attorney for a Free Consultation
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My law practice exclusively represents personal injury victims and does so with a deep understanding of their suffering and an absolute commitment to their recovery. I take your injuries personally, and that is why I directly handle all aspects of every case to ensure that you receive maximum compensation.
Call the Law Office of Michael D. Waks at 888-394-1174 or use the convenient online contact form to schedule a free consultation. You are under no obligation and you will never pay any money unless you recover damages for your injuries. I offer bilingual services as part of my comprehensive approach to legal representation and I am available 24/7 to talk to you about your case.