Big Rig Injury Collisions
A high percentage of traffic crashes and deaths involve large trucks. A large truck is any truck whose vehicle weight is over 10,000 pounds. Because of their size, crashes involving large trucks are more likely to result in serious injury and death than are car crashes. Approximately 10% of all those injured in a large truck crash will die. Large trucks are more likely to be involved in multiple-vehicle crashes than are passenger cars. Both Federal and state regulations govern trucking and cover areas such as safety of equipment and hours of the drivers. Trucking companies are required to keep records of such information and it will be necessary to find and research such records. Poor equipment and driver fatigue can be causes of such crashes, and a careful study of the trucking company records may be needed to determine if negligence has occurred.
There are many types of truck accidents, including:
- Head on collisions
- Rear end collisions
- Broadside collisions
- Right hand squeeze collisions (when a driver attempts to pass a truck on the right hand side, not realizing the truck is making a wide right turn)
- Center line crossover or bump collisions
- Lane change collisions
- Stopped or slow-moving trucks causing rear-end collisions
- Jack-knifed trucks
- Vehicles sliding under trailers
- Loss of control of a vehicle, caused by large trucks
- Loss of control by truck driver
- Hit and Run
Trucking accidents are different from auto accidents in many ways, one of the most serious being the extent of damages and injuries when a truck and an auto collide. Because big rigs, 18 wheelers and tractor-trailers can weigh in excess of 80,000 pounds, a trucking collision can have deadly consequences.
There are unique laws and regulations that are designed specifically to protect motorists from the negligent actions of truck drivers and trucking companies. Federal and state regulations require truckers to have adequate rest to prevent driver fatigue on the highway. There are also other specific rules for trucks including proper loading of the materials the truck is carrying and safety rules on traveling speeds and safety when passing other vehicles. Many modern trucks have devices that allow for the reconstruction of trucker’s actions just before an impact and all truckers are required to keep logs of their time.
The success of any serious large truck accident case requires the immediate retention of very aggressive personal injury attorneys such as U.S. Traffic Accident Lawyers, who are highly experienced in successfully handling big rig truck accident cases.
The personal injury lawyers of U.S. Traffic Accident Lawyers have handled all types of trucking accidents, traffic accidents, automobile claims and wrongful death claims including objects falling off of trucks and vehicles onto the roadway, dangerous roadway design, negligent trucking companies and negligent roadway construction.
To protect your legal rights following severe injury or wrongful death resulting from a Bicycle accident, you should immediately consult an experienced personal injury law firm. Within the first week, important physical evidence can be lost, and witnesses may forget important details.