You see them anytime you drive on the highway, and you may see them for hours at a time if you’re on a road trip. Large trucks are so important, allowing companies to transport goods, services, and even food.
And yet, these same large trucks can be so dangerous as well. According to CNBC, more than 100,000 people are injured every year in truck crashes, and fatal truck accidents are happening nearly 11 times every day.
In 2010, there were 2,715 fatal traffic accidents in California. Of those fatal accidents, 235 involved commercial trucks. In California, nearly 9% of all fatal highway crashed involved at least one large and/or commercial truck. These statistics place California as the second most dangerous state to drive in.
On a national scale, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducted a study from April 2001 to December 2003 concerning the causation of large truck crashes. They found that, out of the 141,000 total accidents involving large trucks, 78,000 of them were due to critical reason. They categorized critical reason into four categories:
In a moment of misjudgment, poor decision making, lack of attention, or panic, a truck can cause an accident involving many cars and resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
In the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration causation study, they found that the most common causes for accidents where the truck driver was at fault are extremely similar to the most common causes for accidents where the passenger car driver was at fault. Those accident causes include:
In can happen all too quickly: a car driver or a truck driver can be unsure, tired, inattentive, sick, speeding, or distracted, and a serious accident can occur as a result.
As with any accident, being involved in a truck accident can be a traumatizing experience and should be handled with expert care. The attorneys at Holland & Holland can work with you on your case and help you make clear, informed decisions. Contact us today for a consultation.