Trucking Accidents

According to national studies, there are over one hundred people killed on our roads and highways every day. One of the major causes is accidents with large trucks and 18-wheelers. Due to their size, limited visibility, and history of driver error, their presence on the roadways is dangerous.

Fatal Truck Accidents

When a large truck collides with a smaller vehicle, the devastation is unimaginable. Due to the unequal distribution of force, the smaller car is often crushed. People suddenly find themselves injured beyond repair, and families find themselves grieving.

The Law Office of Brock Duke’s car accident attorneys provide years of courtroom experience to those families who have suffered a loss due to a fatal trucking accident.

Fatal Truck Accident Damages

Driver negligence is the leading cause of fatal truck accidents. It is essential that truck drivers maintain proper speeds, obey traffic signs, pay attention to the road, and not get distracted by cell phones or other devices. Drivers must also maintain a healthy lifestyle by getting plenty of rest and avoiding drugs and alcohol.

Sometimes the accident is not caused by driver negligence. The accident may be due to defective products, hazardous roadways, defective truck tires, defective truck brakes, poor maintenance, or failure of the trucking company to take proper care of their vehicles. In these situations, the truck driver is not at fault. It is the trucking company’s fault for allowing an unsafe truck on the road. In either case, you are entitled to compensation for your loss.

Injuries From Truck Accidents Include:

Some of the various types of injuries caused by brake defects and malfunctions are: 

Drunk Driving Accident Victim

Although it may be hard to imagine, truck drivers are sometimes found operating their trucks while they’re intoxicated due to drugs or alcohol. When this happens, it’s simply a matter of time before someone is killed or seriously injured due to the driver’s reckless and negligent conduct.

We understand the hardships caused by another person’s bad decision. Drunk driving accidents can change the course of a family or individual person’s life. With the size and power of large cargo trucks, accidents involving these machines create intense and highly dangerous crash situations. If the driver of one of these is under the influence of alcohol, your life is placed in considerably greater danger than in an average passenger car accident. 

Truck Defect / Malfunction

More than 6 million car accidents happen on our nation’s roads and highways every year. Over 3 million people are injured and tens of thousands of people lose their lives. These accidents often result from truck and 18-wheeler defects or malfunctions.

Truck accidents are not always caused by the driver’s negligence; in fact, sometimes, it may be the truck itself that caused the accident.

Brake Malfunction

The demand for various foods, goods, and other products across the country will always exist. With so many large trucks and 18-wheelers on the road, safety is of the utmost importance. But even with such an emphasis on road safety, accidents still occur daily.

With increased congestion and an increased number of drivers on our roads and highways, defective brakes can cause massive highway accidents with tragic injuries or death.

Tire Defects

Many consider truck tires the most critical safety appliance on the vehicle. The tires grip the road in harsh weather, they allow the trucks to turn safely, and permit the trucks to brake properly coming to a safe stop.

If the tires are defective or a malfunction occurs, accidents can happen. Our car accident attorneys provide years of courtroom experience to those families and individuals who have suffered injury or loss due to tire defects.

Sources of Truck Tire Defects

Tire defects occur in various places. They can occur during the design or manufacturing process. An error at the tire plant can cause a bad batch of tires to be produced. In addition, various conditions created by the distribution center can cause damage to the tires while they are waiting to be shipped to the tire stores for sale. Also, the shipping process itself can cause damage or defects to the tires.

The production and distribution process is not the only source of a defective tire. Various factors can affect the tries reliability and road durability. These can include the tire’s design, vehicle compatibility, proper installation and mounting, alignment, and general maintenance. Various parties may be liable for your injuries or loss.

Tire Defects Variations

Truck tire defects can occur after the tire has been used. Truck tires differ from those manufactured for standard cars. Truck tires must support tremendous amounts of weight, friction, and extended hours on the roads and highways. Defective tires can cause injury not only to the truck driver but also to other motorists.

Trucking Company Negligence 

When semi-trucks are involved in accidents, the damage is substantial. Often times the trucking company is liable for the damage caused by their driver and equipment. The trucking company negligence attorneys at the Law Office of Brock Duke provide years of courtroom experience to those families and individuals who have suffered injury or the loss of a loved one due to the negligence of a trucking company.

Trucking Company Liability

It is the trucking company’s responsibility to maintain their vehicles and monitor their employees. The trucking company must ensure that its actions are safe for the public. A trucking company may be liable for:

Failure to Maintain Vehicles

Cars must endure annual inspections. Failure to do so results in the car owner being unable to drive that vehicle on public roadways. The same rules apply to semi-trucks. Large trucks are subject to a much more rigorous set of rules and testing procedures due to the large distances traveled and the wear and tear on the vehicle. Sadly, accidents, injuries, and death could be prevented by simple maintenance of the truck.

Hours of Service Violations

Trucking companies often require their drivers to work long hours. Driving a truck for long distances and extended periods of time puts the driver and other drivers at risk. An alert driver is essential to the safety of themselves and others. A truck driver who has been behind the wheel without rest cannot focus on the road and react to all situations.

Laws exist to prevent these kinds of situations. If trucking companies fail to obey these laws, they become liable for any injuries or damages caused. Our trucking company negligence attorneys provide years of courtroom experience to families and individuals that have suffered an injury or the loss of a loved one due to an overworked truck driver.

Hours of Service Liability

Semi-trucks are huge, and when fully loaded, they can present a serious risk to all other cars on the road. Truck drivers who drive for long periods are required to stop and sleep. Failure to stop and rest is a firm violation of the trucking regulations. When an accident happens due to a tired driver, the trucking company will be held responsible. Let our experienced professionals guide you along the way and recover damages on your behalf.

Negligent Hiring

Truck Drivers spend long hours traveling from one destination to another. Throughout the nation, truck drivers cover hundreds of miles per day. As semi-trucks are so large, they can pose a threat to other drivers as well as the drivers themselves. It is important for truck drivers to stay focused and alert on the road. An accident can easily occur without a focused and responsible truck driver. It is mandatory for trucking companies to employ qualified drivers to drive their trucks.

Negligent Hiring Situations

Trucking companies must recruit skillful truck drivers. They must have the knowledge and abide by the state and federal trucking regulations. It is common; however, for trucking companies to hire under-qualified drivers. In the event this occurs, the families and the friends of the victims pay for the company’s negligence.

Failure to Train

The correct licensing, certifications, and training is required for all current and potential truck drivers. Before any driver can begin filling the trucks, transporting, and delivering products, they must accomplish these basic requirements.

Transporting certain types of volatile and hazardous materials in your truck also requires special qualifications. Substances that are flammable or combustible, corrosive material, and explosives have all proven fatal in the event of a collision. Trucking companies that fail to train their employees properly place other drivers, motorists, and themselves at risk on the roads.

Unqualified Truck Drivers

Semi-trucks and large commercial vehicles operate differently than regular automobiles. Qualities of a semi-truck, like its length, weight, and overall size, demand specific motions and actions by the driver to handle this kind of truck. The overall operation, including the breaking sensitivity of a diesel rig, is an acquired feel for any driver going from a regular car to this kind of truck.

Here are some consequences of inadequate training of truck drivers:

No-Zone Truck Accidents

Even a small collision could cause extreme damage to anybody involved. If a truck driver does not accurately understand their surroundings at the moment of a turn, a lane switch, or simply a stoplight, other motorists are at risk of severe injury.

Definition of a No-Zone:

A no-zone is a blind spot around the truck. With their sizes and structure, trucks tend to have many more blind spots than normal vehicles. If another driver is driving in or close to the no-zone, the truck driver may have difficulty spotting you on the road.

There are three main types of no-zones:

Front no-zone: Driving from an elevated height, truck drivers sometimes have trouble spotting the cars directly in front of them.

Read no-zone: Trucks drivers cannot see vehicles driving directly in the rear. If you, as a driver, cannot see the truck’s mirrors, then the truck driver most likely cannot see you either.

Side no-zone: With blind spots all around the sides of the truck, it is quite tricky for trucks to keep a clear view of their surroundings. If the other driver cannot see the truck driver’s face in the side mirror, the truck driver cannot see the other vehicle.

No-zones make it necessary for truck drivers to drive with extreme care. Truck drivers must be aware of their surroundings at all times when driving across the nation’s roads and highways. A simple mistake can result in an accident, leaving both the truck driver and the truck company liable for the damages.

Truck Driver Error / Negligence

Today, large trucks make up a large percentage of the roads and highways. Because of the size of semi-trucks, they can make other drivers nervous while on the highways. Regular automobiles do not linger next to them for fear of crashing. It is the responsibility and duty of the truck driver to control their vehicle and practice safe driving habits. The size of semi-trucks makes them a threat on the road. If the driver fails to use safe driving tactics, they risk being held liable for another person’s injury, damages, and possible death.

Examples of Truck Driver Negligence

Car crashes resulting from a negligent truck driver make the driver liable for the harm it caused. Below are actions that can cause an accident and are considered negligent driving:

Delivery Truck Accidents 

Delivery truck companies and their drivers are all forced to follow the same rules of the road as semi-truck drivers. Commercial delivery trucks tend to be extremely large, carrying heavy loads down our streets and highways. Due to the size of the trucks and the great weight of their cargo, even the most minuscule accident could cause severe damage. 

Types of Delivery Truck Accidents

Delivery trucks are susceptible to mistakes, like all of us. Unfortunately, in some cases, truck drivers are subjected to factors that strongly affect their ability to operate their vehicles safely.

The Law Office of Brock Duke Can Help With Your Truck Accident

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a trucking company’s negligence, the attorneys at the Law Office of Brock Duke may be able to recover damages on your behalf. This may include compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, inability to work, property damage, lost income, or wrongful death. Let the personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Brock Duke get to work for you and your family.