Car accidents, no matter how minor, are one of the scariest everyday events a person can experience. However, commercial truck accidents can result in more severe injuries than a regular car accident.
According to InsurancePanda.com, approximately 70% of Americans will be involved in at least one car accident over their lifetime.
The average driver will have at least three accidents in their life. This occurs approximately every 17.9 years. Most accidents are minor. However, an accident with a large truck increases the risk of serious injury or death.
As we have previously written, the Truck Safety Coalition (TSC) was concerned by the findings of its 2022 report. It revealed a 75% increase in truck crash deaths between 2009 and 2022.
The report showed that 81% of truck accident-related fatalities involve passengers of other vehicles. The danger these large vehicles pose to non-commercial vehicle drivers and pedestrians is serious.
Best Lawyers for Truck Accidents
Were you injured in a car accident caused by a large truck or semi-trailer truck? You may have a case and deserve significant compensation. Injuries resulting from an accident with a large truck can be severe.
Let the experienced truck accident lawyers at The Yost Legal Group help you seek the justice you deserve.
Navigating the complex world of lawsuits can be challenging. This is especially true when facing a large shipping or trucking company that has strong insurance and legal support. Let the dedicated truck accident lawyers at The Yost Legal Group help you get compensation and justice.
In serious car accidents, there is no time to waste. Even minor injuries can be more severe than they appear at first. Contact our experienced legal team today for a free consultation: 410-659-6800.
Truck Accident in Oqunquit, Maine
We have been tracking a deadly truck accident in Ogunquit, Maine. The driver of a northbound tractor-trailer lost control. He crashed through the median guardrail and hit two vehicles going south.
Tragically and unfortunately, the drivers of the two victim vehicles did not survive the accident. Meanwhile, paramedics took the truck driver to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
This incident highlights the dangers these types of vehicles pose while on the road. Fortunately, the truck driver did not perish in the accident. However, his mistake led to the deaths of two people. One of the victims even operated a box truck, which is classified as a medium-sized commercial vehicle.
However, when the victim’s vehicle came into contact with a semi-trailer truck, such as the one that caused the Maine accident, it had no chance.
After all, a fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. No further information is available about the type of box truck the victim was operating.
However, in the United States, the largest of its kind will typically weigh 26,000 pounds when fully loaded. That is a difference of about 3.1 times the weight.
The other victim was driving a non-commercial vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene by EMTs.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Tractor-trailer crashes involving loss of control can have external instigators. Mechanical failures, poor weather conditions, and road obstructions all can cause accidents. Many of these external factors can be avoided if the truck driver is operating at full mental and physical capacity.
We often see that “internal” driver errors cause many large-truck loss-of-control accidents. Such errors include:
- Driver fatigue
- Medical emergencies
- Substance use
If you or a loved one was the victim of an accident caused by a tractor-trailer driver, call The Yost Legal Group today. Our law firm has been helping accident victims for over 30 years. We know what to look for, what to ask, and how to get our clients the compensation and justice they deserve. Call or text us today at 410-659-6800.
Trucking Companies Impose Strict Deadlines on Their Drivers
Drivers are expected to pick up cargo, transport it across the country, and deliver it on time. Then they have to do that again and again and again. Drivers are incentivized to drive for long hours each day and drive during off-peak hours when traffic is minimal.
This can lead to fatigue while driving, which data show has a similar effect to driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Fatigue and alcohol can impair judgment and slow reflexes. They may also cause sleepiness while driving a vehicle that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. All of these driving conditions increase the likelihood of catastrophic mistakes.
In the case of the accident in Ogunquit, Maine, authorities are still investigating the cause. Preliminary thoughts, given that, at the time of the crash, it was snowing, are that weather played a factor in contributing to the crash.
However, there is no indication that the driver of the large truck was heeding the Maine Turnpike Authority’s “reduced speed” safety warning of 45 miles per hour.
Furthermore, the crash occurred at approximately 6:05 a.m. Fatigue, if the operator had been driving through the night, or drowsiness, may have been a contributing factor at such an early hour.
Common Injuries Suffered by Victims of Large-Truck Accidents
Given the immense size and weight of semi-trailer trucks, other vehicles (or worse, bicyclists or pedestrians) on the road often do not stand a chance when an impact is made.
When the large truck in question can weigh anywhere between 10,000 pounds and a fully loaded 80,000 pounds, even the heaviest non-commercial pick-up truck on the road at “just” 6,000 pounds seems small.
As mentioned, when there is a fatality involving a large-truck accident, 81% of the time, the victim is not the operator of the semi. And while large trucks only account for 5% of all registered vehicles on U.S. roads, they are involved in 10% of all fatal crashes.
However, surviving the accident, should the victim be so lucky, does not mean the victim is unharmed. Common severe injuries related to crashes with large trucks include, but are not limited to:
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Top Truck Collision Attorneys
The above list is of some of the catastrophic injuries one can sustain in an accident with a tractor-trailer. Victims of trucking accidents should consider filing a truck accident claim.
The injuries could lead to a lifetime of medical treatment and pain and suffering. Doctors, procedures, and therapies can be expensive. Paying for these services to recover mentally and physically can be hard. This adds more stress to someone who is already suffering.
A caring and skilled attorney for truck accidents can help you with the complicated legal process.
Leading Truck Wreck Attorneys
The Yost Legal Group has been helping people injured in serious accidents for over 30 years. Our top-rated car accident lawyers will file a lawsuit on your behalf. Our experienced injury lawyers will fight to seek the maximum recovery for you.
We never hope that anyone needs our service, but when they do, we are there to help them through the tough times.
If you or someone you care about has been in a serious or deadly crash with a large truck, act quickly. You need to pursue your personal injury claim against the company without delay.
Contact the experienced truck accident lawyers at The Yost Legal Group today for a free consultation. We will seek compensation from the commercial driver’s insurance company. Call us at 1-800-YOST-LAW or text us at 410-659-6800.
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