The Dangers of Commercial Trucks
During the Covid-19 pandemic we all came to appreciate the vital role that commercial trucking plays in our daily lives and the U.S. economy. Semi-tractor trailer combinations commonly referred to as 18-wheelers transport goods every day to stock store shelves for consumers and deliver materials to factories and construction sites to keep businesses functioning.
Today businesses, rely on just in time delivery processes as a way of being more efficient and keeping inventory costs down. Consumers and businesses want their products whenever they need them.
As legal experts in commercial truck accident law, we must constantly review trends, statistics, facts, and data about motor vehicle accidents involving semi-trucks. Our clients come to us after being involved in a truck accident while driving their passenger car, truck, or motorcycle. Our trucking accident law firm know there are important variables and factors to consider when determining who is at fault in a truck accident.
Commercial truck drivers carry a enormous responsibility when they get behind the wheel of a large truck. Unfortunately, truck drivers often work through stressful working conditions. Truck drivers are pressured by the strict delivery deadlines they must meet while driving long shifts. If you add poor road conditions, inexperienced drivers, or a mechanically flawed machine this can lead to catastrophic results.
As personal injury attorneys, our responsibility is to help our clients receive full and fair compensation when they injured in a trucking accident crash. Due to our serious legal role, we use certain investigative techniques, statistics and facts to analyze data at a crash site while collecting evidence for your trucking accident case.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provided the following important data about truck accidents.
• The U.S. Department of Transportation permits trucker drivers to drive a maximum of 11 hours per day. This means the truck driver can drive 77 hours per week. Breaks must be taken to avoid fatigue and sleepiness.
• Fully-loaded Semi-Tractor trailer combo (typical 18-wheeler) may need up to 30% greater stopping distance to bring the rig to a safe stop.
• In 2019, there were approximately 510,000 automobile accidents involving large trucks in the United States.
• From those accidents, approximately 114,000 injuries were recorded
• 4,479 people died in commercial truck accidents in 2019
• In 2019, 33 percent of work zone fatal crashes and 14 percent of work zone injury crashes involved at least one large truck.
• The vast majority of fatal crashes (83 percent) and nonfatal crashes (86 percent) involving large trucks occurred on weekdays (Monday through Friday).
• There were 13.65 fatal large truck crashes per million people in the United States in 2019, a 29-percent increase from 10.6 in 2010.
• 1979 was the deadliest year involving truck crashes where 6,539 deaths were caused
• 91% of commercial truck accidents result in at least 1 death
• Trucking accidents cause an average of about $65,000 in damage
• Driver fatigue is the primary contributor for about 30% of truck accidents
• Drowsy driving
• Distracted driving
• Truck drivers driving too fast in order to meet a deadline
• Inexperienced drivers operating the truck
• Inexperienced drivers operating other vehicles
• Dangerous weather conditions
• Truck drivers falling asleep due to long driving periods
• Many other circumstances
Speedy delivery is key marketing tool for delivery services that operate in the trucking industry, it is also a common causes of truck accidents.
Semi-trucks have the power and weight to make them one of the deadliest instrumentalities on the road. Even an accident at a slow speed can cause terrifying results.
The average semi-truck and trailer combination is approximately 80,000 pounds and they usually weigh 20-35 times more than the average car. however, the weight of a commercial truck depends on several features:
The length of the truck:
On average, semi-truck and trailer combos in the United States measure around 72 feet long, 13.5 feet tall, and 8.5 feet wide. They can grossly weigh about 80,000 pounds.
The average weight of a semi-tractor trailer load can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds.
States regulate their own weight. The maximum weight allowed can vary from state to state. Some trucks can carry very heavy loads because they have double trailers and 17 axles and carry very heavy loads. Michigan truck laws allow the use of very heavy truck trailer combinations. The tractor trailer combo can weigh up to 164,000 pounds with the proper axle spacings, and combinations can have a maximum of 11 axles. Commonly, trucks of this size are used to haul steel, heavy machinery, crushed aggregates and other bulk materials.
As truck accident attorneys in Detroit we have handled many automobile accidents involving semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and other commercial trucks. We have seen the catastrophic damages that are the result of these massive vehicles colliding with passenger vehicles. If you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial trucking accident contact us today at 866-HIRE-JOE to find out your legal options!
