Semi Truck Wrecks

National Truck Accident Lawyer and Attorney

In 2005 there were 5,200 killed in semi truck wrecks across the United States, and almost 10% of them (502) were in Texas alone. That’s over four deadly accidents per week statewide. Altogether there were over 100,000 injuries on the nation’s highways due to semi truck wrecks.

The American Trucking Association estimated that only 25% of those are the fault of the operator. The United States Department of Transportation (DOT), on the other hand, put that number closer to 44%. But the reality is that the numbers could be even higher. At the very least, problems with the rig and/or driver could make it harder for the 18-wheelers to avoid an accident, or could make semi truck wrecks worse.

The Federal Motor Carry Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) jointly released a report in 2006 investigating 18-wheeler accidents. The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) investigated three years of data to understand the main reasons why semi truck wrecks occur. “LTCCS is the first-ever national study to attempt to determine the critical events and associated factors that contribute to serious large truck crashes so agencies within DOT and others can implement effective countermeasures to reduce the occurrence and severity of these crashes,” the report states.

Report Finds Over 50% of Semi Truck Wrecks Were Fault of Trucker

In fact, the report found that over 50% of accidents were the fault of the truck driver. The top ten causes of semi truck wrecks were:

1. Prescription Drug Use - 26%
2. Traveling Too Fast - 23%
3. Unfamiliar With The Roadway - 22%
4. Over The Counter Drug Use - 18%
5. Inadequate Surveillance - 14%
6. Fatigue - 13%
7. Illegal Maneuver - 9%
8. Exterior Distraction - 9%
9. Inadequate Evasive Action - 7%
10. Aggressive Driving - 7%

Further, over half of those accidents caused death or serious injury – usually to the people in the passenger vehicle, and not the truck driver. About 86% of those killed and 77% of those injured in semi truck wrecks were the people in other vehicles. Not surprising when a big rig is 25 times heavier or more than the typical passenger vehicle.

David P. Willis Can Help Protect Your Rights

Protect yourself or someone you love by contacting David P. Willis for a free consultation right now. Semi truck wrecks are often complicated cases involving several parties including the truck driver, the owner, the leasing company, all of their insurance companies, and other involved organizations. Your claims adjuster or insurance agent does not work for you, so it is in your best interest to find someone who will. Get David P. Willis on your side right now to get the facts about your rights.

Truck Accident Lawyer and Attorney

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed in an 18 wheeler trucking accident, caused by the negligence or gross negligence of the truck driver or trucking company, then call us toll free at 1-800-883-9858 to discuss your potential truck accident lawsuit. Know your legal rights and remedies under the law, talk to a trial lawyer with 20+ years of personal injury experience in representing injured clients and their families. Mr. Willis is a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Call and speak with an attorney who has experience in handling significant cases involving serious injuries and catastrophic losses to those injured and their families.

Call our law firm for a Free Truck Accident Lawyer Evalution at 1-800-883-9858 or use our free and confidential online evaluation form:

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