There are more than 100,000 victims who are injured in truck accidents annually, many which result in lives lost. Despite technological advances in safety and steps the federal government has taken, including more stringent regulations on the trucking industry, these numbers continue to stay consistent each year.
At MartinWren, P.C., we aggressively represent truck accident victims and their families and know just how devastating these types of accidents can be. Injuries for survivors are often catastrophic, resulting in permanent disabilities for the victim. Each Virginia semi accident lawyer has handled multiple cases and knows that there are certain factors that come up in case after case that contributed to the accident happening.
These factors include:
Distraction and Fatigue
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Anyone who has ever taken a road trip knows how monotonous the road can be when you spend hours behind the wheel watching those white lane lanes go by. Imagine having to do that day in and day out, spending up to 11 hours on the road. This is how a truck driver often spends his or her workday. Many drivers understandably have a hard time staying focused and alert and may struggle with drowsiness and paying attention to the road. Truck driver fatigue is a cause of many tragic accidents, and it is the reason that the federal safety regulations have stringent hours of service rules that every interstate truck driver must follow. It has also been found that many truck drivers also suffer from sleep apnea, which can also cause a driver to fall asleep while behind the wheel. Truck drivers may also be tempted to pass the long hours on the road by checking their cell phones, sending and receiving text messages while driving, watching videos, or even watching movies while driving. All of these create intense distractions for drivers that make them unsafe and unable to properly respond to dangers on the road.
Speeding
There are two different ways that speeding contributes to truck accidents. There is the obvious issue that arises when a truck driver is speeding, which can happen if the driver is under pressure to meet almost impossible delivery schedules. It takes a truck much longer to slow down or come to a complete stop than it does for other vehicles, so a commercial truck that is speeding can be as deadly as a bullet. But that time it takes to slow down can also come into play if another vehicle driver is speeding or lane jumping. When the speeding driver cuts the truck off, the truck driver may not have enough time to slow down, again resulting in a tragic accident.
Tailgating
Tailgating as a truck accident factor is usually behavior by another vehicle. Following too closely to a truck can be dangerous – again because of the longer time it takes a truck to come to a stop. A vehicle slamming into the back of a truck is not only deadly to that vehicle’s occupants, but this crash can cause the truck to slam into other vehicles, killing or seriously injuring those motorists. Not only do trucks require more stopping distances than passenger cars, they need more space around them to make sure they do not come into contact with vehicles in adjacent lanes. When traffic stops or slows suddenly, truck drivers may face difficulty being about to respond in the time it takes to bring their massive vehicle to a stop or to otherwise react to the heavy traffic around them. This is particularly true in bad weather conditions, such as when roads are wet or slippery, or when visibility is impaired due to conditions.
Defective or Malfunctioning Equipment
Every truck driver is required to conduct a pre-trip inspection before performing a trip. There are other times that a driver must conduct inspections during a trip, such as to check cargo. Despite this, many trucks should be out of service due to broken components or parts that are in disrepair. This could include brakes, mirrors, lights, or other features that can cause crashes if not working properly. In addition, modern trucks are often equipped with collision avoidance or crash mitigation technology in their telematics systems. These systems have been shown to reduce crash frequency and severity, yet many truck manufacturers fail to make these systems standard in their vehicles. This may permit a products liability claim against the manufacturer for a defective design. In addition, sometimes this crash avoidance technology malfunctions and fails to prevent an otherwise preventable crash. When that happens, there may be a product liability claim against the telematics company.
Drugs and Alcohol
The unfortunate reality is that some truck drivers may drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and this can cause crashes. The federal safety regulations have strict guidelines about drug and alcohol testing at various points, such as when a driver is hired and after certain accidents occur.
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If you would like to find out how MartinWren, P.C. can help you and your family obtain the financial compensation you deserve for the injuries you have suffered in a trucking accident, contact our firm today. We will arrange a free consultation with a semi accident lawyer Virginia clients respect who will evaluate your case and determine what type of damages you have. You may be able to collect compensation for medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, permanent disabilities, disfigurement, emotional anguish, and more.
Robert “Bob” Byrne at MartinWren, P.C. is the first and only attorney in Virginia who has become Board Certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Bob obtained this honor after several years of hard work in which he passed a mini bar examination focused on trucking law and regulations, evidence law, civil procedure, and ethics. Bob also had to demonstrate having had many years of representing individuals and families who were involved in truck crashes. Finally, Bob had to go through a rigorous peer-review process where other attorneys and judges had to confirm that Bob had experience and the ethical standards necessary to be a board certified attorney.
Call us today to put this experience and compassion to work for you. We can help.
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