One of the most devastating accidents that can take place on our highways is an accident between a smaller vehicle and an 18 wheeler. These giants of our highways, along with an assortment of other smaller freight carriers, have their destination in mind and not other road users. They are not always considerate to other road users and they always seem to be rumbling along at breakneck speeds. It is not surprising that most other road users want to keep a clear distance from them.
Truck accident statistics
Truck accidents inflict considerably more fatalities annually than other vehicles and around 500,000 accidents which involve trucks occur each year on our national highways. Approximately twelve percent of these incidences include a fatality. In numbers this amounts to around 90 deaths each day which are due to truck accidents.
If you, or a member of your family, have been unlucky enough to have been involved in one of these truck accidents then you should be seeking the services of a truck accident lawyer. Many of these lawyers have succeeded in winning compensation for victims that run into millions of dollars.
Truck accidents are particularly serious as they are so big that anything they might hit while moving could inflict serious damage to the other vehicle, as well as serious injuries to the driver and the passengers. Wearing seatbelts won’t even help as the sheer force of the impact of an 18 wheeler has the capacity to completely crush the vehicle and its occupants. No one would be spared injury. The extent of damage and injury will depend on how fast both vehicles were travelling at the time.
Sometimes, truck accidents are just the result of a collision between two vehicles. However, a truck sometimes travels along the road completely out of control. This could be due to defective tires or brakes or loss of control due to driver negligence such as speeding, texting while driving or under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Common causes of truck accidents
Driver fatigue, as many drivers are driven by the cash benefits of driving over the legal number of hours
Defective truck components which includes brakes, lights and steering equipment.
Poor maintenance of trucks, leaving them in a dangerous condition.
If you, or a loved one, have had the bad luck to be involved in an accident with a truck, then you should not hesitate but seek out the services of an experienced truck accident lawyer, who will determine if you have reasonable grounds for lodging a successful compensation claim.
It doesn’t matter how the accident was caused, as long as you were not at fault and you are legally entitled to claim compensation for injuries that you received in the accident. This is to cover for any financial hardships such as loss of earning potential while recovering, the cost of medical expenses and a component for the pain and suffering endured as a result of injuries that were not your fault. The insurer of the person at fault cannot be relied upon to offer a sufficient amount that would cover completely your likely financial hardships.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, learn how to protect your rights with a free consultation. Contact an experienced Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer.
