Gigantic trucks are a clear danger to anybody near them on a roadway. They can be 70 feet long and weigh 80,000 pounds. They’re far less maneuverable than passenger cars and even on dry pavement, they will take at least 20% more roadway to come to a complete stop. If a tractor-trailer collides with a passenger car at highway speeds, the result is likely to be disastrous after a truck accident.
The Most Recent Statistics
The most recent large truck crash statistics from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) are from 2017. In that year, 4,889 large trucks and buses were involved in crashes that caused fatalities. That was a 9% increase from the prior year. As per large truck crashes involving injuries, there were 116,000 of those. They represented a 4% increase from 2016. Here are some of the common causes of large truck crashes:
Poor Brake Maintenance: We’ve all see pieces of large truck brake parts and tires on roadways. The failure of trucking companies to perform routine maintenance can result in lost lives or permanent disfigurement and disabilities.
Driving Too Fast for Conditions: This is a form of speeding. It includes both traffic and weather conditions.
Drowsy or Fatigued Driving: Federal regulations include hours of service rules. Drivers are often under pressure to meet deadlines though. This leads to sleep deprivation that can be as dangerous as drunk driving.
Aggressive Driving: This includes speeding and tailgating. The driver of an 18-wheeler must leave enough of an interval between the truck and the vehicle ahead to safely come to a complete stop.
Drug and Alcohol Use: Drivers under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both are a serious danger on Maricopa County highways. Mental acuity, cognitive abilities, coordination and depth perception can all be compromised as a result of impairment.
Overloaded or Improperly Loaded Trucks: Weight shifts or changes in the center of gravity can cause a truck to jackknife or roll over on a crowded roadway.
If you were injured in a truck accident, or if you lost a family member in such a crash in or around Phoenix, contact our truck accident lawyers in Phoenix at 602-265-7767, or use our easy online contact form to arrange for a free consultation and case review. You can tell us what happened and how it happened, and we can answer your questions. After that, we’ll advise you of the full range of legal options that are available for you. By doing that, you can make informed decisions. Our objective is to maximize any proceeds that you might derive through a settlement or award.
