Why Are There So Many Injuries and Deaths in Truck Accidents?
Here are some of the reasons…
- Mechanical defects - At least one in five tractor trailers have mechanical difficulties so serious they would be taken off the road if caught.
- Physics - 80,000 pound big rigs are bound to cause serious consequences in a crash with a 3,000 pound passenger vehicle.
- Driver fatigue - According to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, drivers fatigue is a probable factor in 20 - 40% of truck crashes.
- Profit - Truckers average about 125,000 miles per year. Trucking company revenues were over $600 billion last year and projected to be almost double that by 2015. Its big business at its worst, pushing drivers to the limit - - 14 hours a day "on duty" for five straight days (the Federal maximum). Unfortunately, this is typical in the trucking industry.
- Distracting technology - Cell phones, text messaging, CB radios, email, onboard computers and navigational devices cause drivers to take their focus off the road. According to a recent assessment by the National Traffic Safety Administration (2005), almost half of all truck drivers interviewed reported a "close call" while trying to use various devices while driving. As it stands now, there are no Federal regulations banning or limiting the use of such devices. But that doesn't make it right or safe.
- Distracting behaviors - There are no Federal regulations that ban eating, drinking, or even urinating in a bottle while driving a tractor trailer.
- Driver inattention - A study published in 2006 reports that nearly 80% of crashes involve some form of driver inattention within three seconds prior to collision.
- Driver negligence - Driving too fast for conditions, tailgating, lane changing, improper turning and parking, etc.
- Driver qualifications - Long-haul drivers are required to meet basic health and fitness standards that are part of their CDL certification. Despite this, health issues affect more long-haul drivers than the motoring public in general. One current proposal is to require long-haul drivers to be tested for sleep apnea - - a sleep disorder that leads to daydreaming and fatigue.
- Negligent supervision, hiring and entrustment - Many companies look the other way when investigating a new driver's driving record. They also fail to have or enforce company policy as it relates to all of the above problems.
SOME GOOD RESOURCES
Some good resources on tractor trailer laws, regulations, statistics and studies include:
IMPORTANT NOTICE
More than one company may be at fault when a tractor trailer collision occurs. The trucking industry is complex and different shippers and motor carriers involved in transporting a load may be legally liable for damages caused. That's why it is vitally important to contact a lawyer with years of experience with big rig injury and death cases.
I have collected millions of dollars for my clients in commercial vehicle cases. Consult free with experienced personal injury lawyer Robert L. Whitaker.
