Have You Been Hurt in a Truck Accident?

Truck Accidents Present a Disproportionate Risk of Serious Injury

Large trucks, such as semis and 18-wheelers, are used by numerous businesses to carry freight.

Colliding with a large truck can spell disaster.  According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, although large trucks make up only 3% of all the vehicles on the road, accidents involving large trucks account for 12% of all vehicle accident fatalities.

Despite Copious Safety Regulations, Large Trucks Still Present a Real Road Danger

18-wheelers are almost exclusively operated for commercial purposes.  For this reason, and because their size and operational features present special dangers to other users of the road, commercial big-rigs and their drivers are highly regulated by both state and federal law.

Government regulations specify how often trucks must be maintained and inspected, as well as the specific maintenance tasks and inspections that must be carried out.  They define items such as what type of braking, safety, and back-up systems these trucks must have installed, and how much loads may weigh and how loads must be distributed and secured. Regulations also address training and licensing requirements for drivers, driver hours of operation, mandatory rest periods, and so on.

Yet regulations cannot prevent trucking accidents.  While some accidents are a result of weather or road conditions, faulty or failed components, or are caused by other drivers or road obstructions, many others are the result of trucker error.  Some trucker errors result from or include:

• Distraction or inattention due to driver fatigue;
• Driving too fast for the weather conditions;
• Lack of familiarity with the terrain, road, or climate;
• Improperly merging or changing lanes; and
• Speeding.

In addition, truckers and trucking companies, under pressure to meet schedules and deadlines, sometimes “short-cut” safety regulations. When this happens, the results can be disastrous.

If You Have Been Involved in a Truck Accident, Call the Finch Davis Law Firm

Under Louisiana law, if the accident has been caused by a negligent truck driver or by a trucking company that was operating its big rig in violation of state or federal regulations, or failing to exercise due care in the operation of a vehicle, you may be able to recover damages for your injury, including medical costs, pain and suffering, property damage, loss of income, and other damages.

In trucking accidents, it is critical that you act promptly. A truck accident is very different from other car accidents because the regulations that govern how commercial truck companies must operate can affect your ability to establish liability.  In addition, trucking companies and their drivers may be based out of state, and it is important that you have an attorney who knows how to hold these businesses accountable.