Truck Accidents in the U.S.

Large trucks, also known as big rigs, tractor-trailers or semis, form part of the supply network that keeps the economy running smoothly in the United States. But they are also extremely dangerous in the hands of an inexperienced or careless operator or if they are improperly maintained. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a truck weighs 20-30 times as much as the average  automobile. As a result, it can hit a passenger vehicle with much greater force, causing serious injury or even death for the driver and passengers.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that trucks made up just 2.6 percent of the vehicles on U.S. roads in 2006. However, they were involved in 11% of the 41,059 fatal accidents (IIHS, 2007) that occurred.  Ninety-seven percent of the people who died were drivers or passengers in the automobile involved in 2-vehicle accidents involving large trucks. According to the IIHS there were 4,602  truck accident fatalities in 2007.

There are specific federal and state regulations that large truck operators must abide by when driving on U.S. roads. For example, truckers must make sure that their vehicles are properly maintained, that all cargo is secure and that the load the truck is carrying does not exceed proper weight requirements. Failure to meet these regulations can lead to deadly truck accidents and be grounds for a truck collision lawsuit.

The use of commercial trucks is governed by the Department of Transportation and it requires that truck operators carry liability insurance for accidents that result in bodily injury or death.

Truck collisions can be devastating experiences for automobile drivers and passengers and others involved in these accidents. A good truck accident lawyer will know what to look for in terms of determining who was at fault. For example, your lawyer should know how to work with accident reconstruction experts and be familiar with reading trucking log books and checking the data on the vehicle’s black box.

If you have been injured in an accident with a truck, please contact the injury law firm of Timothy G. Anderson or call (813) 251-0072 for a consultation regarding any accident lawsuit you plan to file.