In the United States alone, around 500,000 trucking accidents occur each year, with roughly 5,000 of these resulting in death. These accidents often involve several people other than the driver of the truck, with several accidents even involving school buses full of children. Our Georgia personal injury team discusses how destructive truck accidents really are below.
Why Truck Accidents are so Deadly
The primary reason why trucking accidents can be so lethal is due to the vehicle’s size. Semi-trucks are about 20 times heavier than the average car on the road. Should one of these large trucks collide with another car, the car will sustain the brunt of the damage, as will its passengers.
These trucks also require a greater braking distance than other cars in order to complete a full stop due to their immense weight. That is why many drivers are concerned when they are tailgated by large trucks, fearing a rear-end collision that causes far more damage than simply another car.
A semi truck’s height also makes it much more unstable compared to cars. When trucks are loaded improperly, it can cause heavy cargo to shift, resulting in a truck losing control and overturning.
Additionally, their length is able to put other drivers at risk. Paired with their height, their length can create massive blind spots both in front and behind them, and can easily cause a collision with another car should they fail to properly analyze the road when switching lanes.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Although there are plenty of reasons as to why the vehicle itself can be prone to accidents, however, there are also many reasons as to why the negligence of the driver can have the same result. Here are some of the most common reasons why a truck driver would be held liable for an accident:
- When a driver willingly remains driving under extreme sleepiness and fatigue from long driving distances.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Driving distracted by texts or phone calls
- Poorly maintaining their truck bed
- Lack of training
- Reckless driving
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a trucking accident due to another driver’s negligence, you may be able to seek compensation for their carelessness. Due to these cases typically involving state and federal laws that regulate the trucking industry and its drivers, it is wise to consult an experienced attorney.
Contact Our Georgia Personal Injury Team Today
If the negligence of a truck driver has caused you or a loved one physical and emotional suffering, our team is ready to support you with personalized and compassionate services.
If you have further questions about your case, don’t hesitate to contact us today through our website or give us a call at (404) 620-3337 to schedule a consultation.