HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE A TRUCKING ACCIDENT CASE?

We are ready to represent you and bring back the compensation you will need to recover. It’s difficult to understand the full details of an 18-wheeler accident without consulting an experienced attorney. We have handled numerous cases like yours and successfully earned our clients the compensation that they deserve. 

Primary causes of 18-wheeler accidents include:

• Careless operation of motor vehicle
• Excessive speed
• Overweight or unsafe vehicle load
• Driver impairment (alcohol, drugs, sleep deprivation, etc.)
• Other vehicles on the road
• Tire blowout or other vehicle malfunction

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

• Highway collisions involving large trucks killed nearly 5,000 people on average each year in the United States between 1975 and 2015.
• Twelve percent of all automobile accidents on United States highways that result in passenger deaths were attributed to semi-trucks in 2015.
• Most large truck collisions occur during the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., but the largest percentage of 18-wheeler-involved passenger deaths occur between 3 p.m. and 3 a.m.

When evaluating a truck accident case, it is important to consider, the likelihood of alcohol consumption or sleep deprivation being involved. For example, drunk drivers in passenger vehicles driving alongside semi-trucks may force them to make erratic or sharp turns to avoid another collision. Between 30 and 40% of all passenger-vehicle related deaths in automotive accidents are attributed to high blood alcohol content when a semi-truck is also involved.

Fortunately, since 1979, the IIHS cites that the rate of 18-wheeler collisions has decreased by over 80% when compared with the number of miles driven per accident. This does not mean that semi-truck accidents are not likely to occur. Heavy traffic conditions and poor weather, combined with a long list of personal and environmental distractions, create the conditions for accidents. 

Our law firm is knowledgeable about motor vehicle safety laws and regulations and will be utilizing every source of evidence while handling your claim to assess liability. Liability in semi-truck accident cases is generally assessed under a standard of negligence, seeking to understand which driver was negligent in the operation of the motor vehicle which caused the accident. Since liability will be disputed by the trucking company, you will require an experienced attorney to handle your case.