Trucking Accidents Decline; Motorist Safety Remains Priority

September 01, 2011 (Press-News.org) More and more vehicles are hitting the roads during this busy driving season. Unfortunately, with this extra traffic comes an increase in motor vehicle accidents - some of the more dangerous involving large trucks.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,380 people were killed in crashes involving commercial trucks in 2009, a 20 percent decrease from the previous year. Although fatalities from semi truck crashes are declining, motorists should still be aware that large trucks' size, weight, visibility and braking abilities make semi trucks dangerous.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration partnered with NHTSA to conduct the Large Truck Crash Causation Study in 2007 to better understand the reasons behind crashes involving commercial vehicles.

The study found that the most common cause (32 percent) of truck accidents was the truck veering out of the proper travel lane, either into another lane or off the roadway. Other common causes included losing control of the truck (29 percent) and rear ending another vehicle (22 percent).

Another common error on the part of the truck driver is taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs before or during a drive and becoming drowsy or unfocused. According to the FMCSA, commercial drivers' prescription drug use caused more crashes than any other factor in 2006.

There are many other factors that can affect a commercial driver's ability to drive safely and attentively. In certain situations the company employing the truck driver can be held accountable for a mistake resulting in a crash. Some trucking companies fail to provide drivers with proper training on driving technique and safety hazards. Companies often hold drivers to unrealistic schedules which encourage unsafe speeds and too many consecutive hours spent driving without a break.

Drivers of passenger vehicles often cause crashes by misjudging the truck driver's visibility range, braking abilities or speed. The size of semis prevents drivers from seeing other vehicles immediately behind and beside the truck, so cutting around a truck attempting to make a turn or change lanes could be a fatal mistake.

Large trucks require more time to slow down than smaller passenger vehicles. Abruptly changing lanes in front of a truck or improperly merging into traffic could cause a deadly rear-end collision. Motorists should keep these safety issues in mind while on the road to avoid involvement in one of the 141,000 truck crashes that occur each year.

If you or a loved one has been in an accident with an 18-wheeler, you know how much damage they can cause. You may have suffered serious injuries that require extensive rehabilitation before you will be back to normal, not to mention extensive property damage.

As you recover, you should not have to spend your time fighting with insurance companies that are trying to pressure you into a settlement. They do not have your best interests in mind when trying to resolve your case. They want it to go away quickly for as little compensation as possible. Injuries may not heal properly, and in some cases, lifetime care may be required.

Before settling any case, talk to an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you understand the true value of your case. An attorney can investigate the accident to determine how the accident actually happened, and can ensure that you are not taken advantage of by the responsible parties.

Article provided by Abbott & Abbott, P.C.
Visit us at www.abbottandabbott.net