Trucking Accident

The trucking industry is a vital component of the US economy, raking in about $255.2 billion per year. Relying so heavily on trucking to keep the economy afloat often comes at a great expense; many truckers are forced to battle drowsiness and overbooked schedules, which contributed to an estimated 140,000 truck accidents in 2006. Of those, fewer than 5,000 ended up being fatal crashes, and 350 of them occurred in the State of Florida alone. Studies have proven that in over 80 percent of these cases, the truck driver is at fault. These truck drivers and their companies can be held liable if an accident results in injury to another driver or passenger.

Every 16 minutes, a person is injured or dies in an accident involving an 18-wheeler, tractor trailer, or semi-truck. If you have been injured in a tractor trailer accident, it is important to consult a truck accident attorney right away. A truck accident lawyer may be able to recover damages on your behalf from the negligent driver or trucking company.

Truck Driver Fatigue

Truck driver fatigue is a leading cause of tractor trailer accidents, as drowsiness significantly increases a trucker's risk of being involved in a crash. In fact, fatigued truck drivers became such a concern that in 2003, new federal regulations regarding hours of service were instituted. Although these truck driver regulations have reduced the number of tractor trailer crashes, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board still estimates that truck driver fatigue is the cause of up to 40% of all trucking accidents.

When a trucking accident is caused by truck driver fatigue, the injured victim or their loved ones, in a case of wrongful death, can sue the truck driver or trucking company to recover for their losses. Our trucking accident lawyers are aware of the federal trucking laws and will investigate your case to determine whether the at-fault driver and trucking company violated hours of service regulations.

Causes of Tractor Trailer Accidents

Here are the most common causes of trucking accidents:

• Lack of driver training
• Schedule overload and impractical expectations imposed on drivers by trucking companies; this encourages drivers to rush and break the law (e.g., speeding) in spite of the obvious dangers.
• Drivers with a history of accidents and traffic violations that have not had their commercial licenses suspended or revoked
• Driver fatigue, drowsiness, alcohol intoxication, and prescription or illegal drug use
• Road rage and other forms of aggressive driving
• Failing to adapt to risky driving conditions (e.g., snow, black ice, fog, etc.)
• Subpar maintenance of significant safety components of tractor trailers such as tires and brakes and inadequate repair work
• Load exceeds truck's weight limit or is balanced incorrectly
• Poorly maintained roads, malfunctioning traffic lights, inappropriate road layout, construction obstacles, obscure signage, insufficient lighting, and trees or shrubbery obstructing one's view
• Commercial license requirements that differ depending on the state where it is acquired

A number of truck accidents happen because people sharing the road with these big rigs are unsure how to maneuver around vehicles of such magnitude. However, the majority of these collisions are caused by truck driver negligence or poor vehicle maintenance.

Truck Accident Lawyers

In most cases, our tractor trailer accident attorneys can assist in getting much of your lost wages, medical bills, property damage, and other related costs reimbursed to you. We will also help you deal with your own auto insurance company as far as making any necessary claims in addition to handling your case against the noncommercial driver's insurance company. Even if you are unsure whether you are at fault, please consult with us immediately.

The truck accident lawyers at Morgan & Morgan litigate numerous lawsuits to trial involving Truck Accidents and other personal injury cases every year across the country. We are extremely proud of the results that we have obtained. We have obtained substantial trucking accident settlements and favorable tractor trailer accident verdicts for our clients.

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