Accidents involving large semi-trucks and motorists continue to increase annually in the United States. In 2012, there were nearly 4,000 fatalities and over 100,000 injuries due to collisions with large trucks (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). At Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys serving Lawrence & Manhattan, our experienced attorneys have seen first hand how trucking accidents have tragically affected our clients’ lives.
There are 4 major causes of trucking accidents. They include inclement weather, improper loading, mechanical failure, and truck driver error.
Inclement weather has a dangerous impact on the road safety of tractor trailers and big rigs. It takes great skill to safely drive large trucks even during regular road conditions. The slick road surfaces caused by rain, ice or snow can create almost impossible conditions for a large vehicle transporting heavy cargo. This is directly tied to the next major cause of trucking accidents. There are too many instances when cargo is carelessly loaded without taking weight distribution into consideration. The imbalance of cargo in the truck bed causes boxes to fall down during transportation. It also makes it difficult for the large truck to stay upright and/or keep its trailer from wandering dangerously into lanes of traffic.
Commercial trucking companies sometimes care more about profit than the safety of their vehicles. This is why safety regulations are often ignored by commercial trucking companies in the name of profit. They knowingly keep large trucks in commission that have defective brakes and damaged tires. Well-maintained big rigs are sometimes difficult to drive. Adding faulty brakes and tires to the equation is a losing combination for everyone involved. The leading cause of trucking accidents is due to truck driver error. Truckers spend long stretches on the road without sleep, which results in severe fatigue and sometimes substance abuse. They end up taking unnecessary risks such as speeding or merging without looking. The resulting accidents are as senseless as they are tragic. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a trucking accident, please contact our professional attorneys. Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys serving Lawrence & Manhattan has the experience necessary to defend your rights!
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