Trucks Outweigh Cars In Fatal Accident Risks Posed

by

texlaw

Although there are 26 million more cars than trucks in the U.S., and the miles driven by cars exceeds truck mileage by 273 million miles annually, trucks are involved in over 3,000, or 15%, more fatal accidents than cars, according to 2008 data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The reason for this apparently disproportionately high number of fatal accidents involving light and heavy trucks and buses poses serious questions for state and federal safety officials.

Experts who closely follow patterns in traffic accidents, including injury and death, say accidents involving an 18-wheeler, passenger bus or truck are more likely to result in a catastrophic event as a result of the sheer size of the truck. A typical fully loaded large commercial truck can weigh over 80,000 pounds compared to the approximate 3,000 pounds of the average passenger vehicle.

Just consider these recent horrific accidents involving trucks.

In early August, two people were killed and 50 injured in a wreck involving two school buses, a semi and an SUV about 40 miles outside of St. Louis, MO.

Two people died in a fiery accident in Elbridge, NY this month when a tractor trailer ran over a stopped car. According to authorities, there were no skid marks from the tractor-trailer on the road, an indication that the truck driver did not apply brakes before the crash.

A retired truck driver was recently given 10 years probation for a truck accident that killed 10 people in Oklahoma, which police called one of the worst traffic accidents ever recorded in the history of the state.

In Kentucky earlier this summer, 11 people were killed when a semi crossed an interstate median and crashed into a passenger bus.

A number of driver behaviors can contribute to truck accidents. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, driver fatigue could be a significant factor in up to 20 percent of all large truck accident fatalities and 7 percent of all accidents involving both fatalities and injuries. In fact, a third of drivers questioned in a survey admitted they had fallen asleep at the wheel in the preceding 12 months.

Other unsafe driving behaviors can include speeding, unsafe passing maneuvers, driving faster than weather or road conditions permit, failure to yield the right of way and aggressiveness.

The message for passenger car drivers is clear. Drive defensively. Concentrate on the road. But if you or a loved one is involved in a catastrophic large truck accident, consult an experienced attorney immediately to safeguard your rights to appropriate compensation.

Founder of longtime Texas personal injury law firm

Jim S. Adler & Associates

, Adler is a Houston car accident lawyer who supports Safe Kids, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other safe driving campaigns. Anyone harmed in a car or truck accident can obtain a free case review form on the Adler Web site to take the first step toward financial recovery, Adler says.

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com