There are more than 100,000 victims who are injured in truck accidents annually, many which result in lives lost. Despite 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. 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.
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.
Contact Our Office Today
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.
Call 434-817-3100 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form