There are hundreds of thousands of trucks traveling on our roads at any given time. Commercial trucks play an integral role in the distribution of products as well as keeping businesses alive today. However, every year there are a variety of truck accidents due to negligence on the roadways, which can be prevented in many cases. When you are in need after a truck accident, a personal injury attorney can get you the best results.
Why do Truck Accidents Occur?
There are many reasons why truck accidents occur on our roadways. Commercial truckers are highly regulated in a variety of ways. Every hour they make deliveries on the roadways, they ensuring that the hours are logged. They also have to make sure they are taking breaks when they’re supposed to, as these are the rules of the road. Motor vehicle accidents happen every day and, they too are serious, but the sheer size of large commercial vehicles makes for bigger risks for other drivers. From pure negligence to simple mistakes that every driver makes from time to time, truck accidents are bound to occur, which can end in personal injuries as well as death.
Driver distraction is one of the major causes of these accidents. Drivers can become distracted in many ways, from texting on the roads, to fiddling around with the radio, to handling food while driving. The statistics don’t lie: In 2016, 3.3% of drivers use handheld cell phones. These numbers seem low, but just one mistake can lead to a devastating accident and loss of life. In 2015, there was an estimated 32,166 fatal motor vehicle crashes, many of which involved an accident with a commercial truck.
Many of the other reasons for these accidents include simple road mistakes to drunk driving. In fact, we know that a percentage of drivers still use alcohol or drugs before they get behind the wheel of a car. In 2015, nearly 1.1 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence, and drugs are involved in about 16% of motor vehicle crashes in some way. Truck drivers are held to a higher standard of driving than those who drive passenger vehicles, so these cases are handled very seriously.
Have you been injured in an accident involving a truck and need a car accident attorney or truck personal injury attorney to help you fight for your rights? Truck accidents happen every day in the U.S., but you shouldn’t have to live with your injuries. You are entitled to compensation you deserve.