Collisions involving trucks are on the rise. In 2019, just over 4,000 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes, which is a 43 percent increase over the last decade. Trucking crash cases are unfortunate as these types of collisions are avoidable when regulations are followed.
Large trucks often can weigh 20-30 times as much as a passenger car. When contact does occur, the results can be devastating. Understanding the different factors that can play a role in trucking crash cases can help if you happened to collide with a large truck. These three factors can play an important outcome trucking crash cases.
If you suffered a serious injury due to a collision with a big truck, please don’t hesitate to contact me. You can request a free consultation through our contact form or call us at 864-235-4999 by tapping the button below.
Three Important Factors in Trucking Crash Cases
According to the National Safety Council, “In lawsuits that went in favor of the plaintiffs, hours-of-service violations, lack of clean driving record and fatigue were commonly cited factors.
There is a specific amount of time in which a truck operator is allowed to remain on the road. When drivers choose to go beyond the hours of service requirement, fatigue can set in, which can lead to a dangerous situation on the road. These regulations are in place to protect all drivers on the road. When they’re ignored, the results can lead to a wreck and serious injuries can occur.
Hours of Service Violations
There are federal regulations in place to prevent hours of service violations. Truckers can drive 11 hours each day only after ten consecutive hours off duty. They may not drive more than 14 straight hours.
Truck drivers who reach the maximum of 70 hours of driving in a week may only start driving again after a 34 hour rest period, which has to include at least two nights, including the period from 1-5 a.m.
They must also take at least one 30-minute break during the first eight hours of their shifts. While all of these laws have everyone on the road’s safety in mind, trucking companies often resist these laws.
Fatigue
Truck drivers often work when they are tired, leading to carelessness and collisions on the road.
Because of their weight and length, it takes a tractor-trailer much longer to stop or slow down to avoid a collision. When a truck driver is fatigued, it makes it almost impossible for a truck driver to take action to avoid an accident.
Truck drivers must be alert at all times. Any moment that can break a driver’s focus can lead to tragedy.
Poor Driving Record
Truck drivers should be held to the highest standard possible. Unfortunately, due to the highly volatile nature of the trucking industry, many companies will fill vacancies with unqualified truck drivers.
Trucking companies have a responsibility to ensure their drivers meet the standards a CDL license requires. When they fail to employ qualified drivers, the trucking companies deserve to be held accountable.
Trucking Injury Case Experience
Over the course of my more than 20 years of legal experience – in the courtroom and at the negotiating table – I’ve represented clients in cases involving trucking crash cases.
I’m a member of the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America (APITLA), an organization and network of attorneys across America that work on trucking cases. As a result, I continuously stay up-to-date on new laws regarding the proper and improper operation of a truck. As your lawyer, I will work with you to retrieve the financial retribution you deserve and to hold the driver as well as the trucking company accountable for their actions.
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a collision with a large truck, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 864-235-4999 or through the contact form below.