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Of all accidents that involve large trucks, or “semis,” a tractor trailer accident is most likely to result in fatality. In fact 64 percent of all large truck fatalities involved tractor trailer accident cases. Tractor trailer accident statistics reveal that 500,000 large truck accidents occur each year in the United States. This means that about one in eight vehicle accidents are a tractor trailer accident. Approximately 140,000 people are injured in these accidents and at least five thousand are killed. Of the injured, 26,000 receive catastrophic injuries that result in serious brain damage or the loss of a limb.
The number of fatal tractor trailer accidents increased ten percent between 1992 and 2002. Ninety-eight percent of all tractor trailer accident fatalities are suffered by the passengers of motor vehicles rather than truck drivers. More than half of all fatal tractor trailer accident cases involve tractor trailer front impact, suggesting that the truck driver may have been responsible for the tractor trailer accident in a number of these cases.
There are several causes of tractor trailer accident cases which can be the fault of truck drivers, truck companies, or the drivers of other motor vehicles. A motor vehicle driver can be responsible for a tractor trailer accident when s/he commits a reckless maneuver or fails to take into account tractor trailer capability limitations in terms of acceleration, braking, and visibility. It is important for drivers to understand how to safely share the road with large trucks in order to mitigate the risk of a tractor trailer accident.
A tractor trailer accident can also be the result of truck driver or truck company negligence or reckless actions. Mechanical failures can be the cause of a tractor trailer accident. Truck companies are required by law to complete routine and proper maintenance work and meet all inspection standards. Brake failure, oversized loads, and other tractor trailer problems can be the cause of a tractor trailer accident.
Tractor trailer drivers may commit reckless acts due to intoxication, improper training, or general negligence. Driver fatigue is a major cause of tractor trailer accident cases. Government studies indicate that driver fatigue is the cause of thirty to forty percent of all tractor trailer accident cases. In one study, approximately twenty percent of tractor trailer drivers admitted to falling asleep at the wheel at least once in the last three months.
Because of the serious risks related to tractor trailer accident cases, the federal government established the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in 2000 in order to decrease the amount of tractor trailer accident cases that occur. The agency has revised the laws governing the number of hours a driver can work between periods of off-time, implemented licensing standards, and helped to create cohesive standards in conjunction with state authorities, and conduct routine safety performance monitoring in order to reduce the potential for tractor trailer accident cases.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a tractor trailer accident, it is advantageous to seek the expert advice and counsel of a legal professional who can protect and maximize your interests.
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