According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), 85% of the large trucks involved in fatal traffic crashes in 2014 were heavy large trucks, i.e. trucks with a gross vehicle weight training (GVWR) of more than 26,000 lbs.
3,903 people in the United States were killed and 111,000 people were injured in crashes that involved large trucks. An estimated 438,000 large trucks in the US were involved in police-reported traffic crashes in 2014.
Truck Accidents Caused by Drivers of Vehicle Passengers
Passenger vehicle drivers, primarily cars, are often to blame for traffic accidents with large commercial trucks like big rigs. Many car drivers commit common unsafe acts which are mostly due to ignorance about the performance capabilities of a truck, like limits associated with visibility and acceleration braking.
Here is a look at some of the most common types of unsafe acts that car drivers commit in the vicinity of large trucks, which often cause truck accidents.
- Driving in areas known as “No Zones”, which are the areas beside and behind a commercial truck where the truck driver has zero or very limited visibility.
- Abrupt changing of lanes in front of a truck.
- Maneuvering to the truck’s right when it is making a right turn.
- Misjudging the speed of a truck that is approaching at an intersection and turning left in front of the truck.
- Not merging into traffic properly, which in turn causes a truck to brake or maneuver quickly.
- Failure to slow down or speed up when a truck begins to merge or change lanes.
- Unsafe passing, in particular, passing without sufficient headway.
- Passing a truck and then being blown out of position by crosswind or air turbulence.
- Pulling into traffic from the side of the road in front of a truck without sufficient acceleration.
- Driving between large trucks.
- Abandoning a vehicle in a travel lane, or failing to ensure that a disabled car is moved away completely off the highway and onto the shoulder.
Truck Accidents Caused by Truck Drivers
A large number of characteristics that are inherent in the commercial trucking business can play a major role in traffic accidents, including:
- Inadequate training as to safety concerns, driving technique and defensive driving.
- Systems of compensation that encourage more hours of consecutive driving than normally advised and faster vehicle speeds.
- Unrealistic expectations and schedules of trucking companies, encouraging drivers to rush despite safety risks involved.
A truck accident can cause serious injuries and in some cases, can be fatal. Those who have been injured in such an accident caused by another driver’s negligence may be eligible to file a personal injury claim for damages such as medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering, emotional distress, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a trick accident, you should immediately seek the help of an experienced personal injury attorney and there is no firm better than this than the Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff of RMFW Law. You can reach them at 212-344-1000. You can discuss your legal options and find the best way to obtain compensation for damages during this free initial consultation.
Call up RMFW Law today! We know how to win cases. We have won millions of dollars for past clients. You too can be on this glorious list.
