how many accidents are caused by semi trucks?

How Many Accidents are Caused by Semi Trucks?

Every day, Houston drivers share the road with large semi trucks transporting cargo across Texas. These trucks, while essential to the state’s infrastructure, are consistently causing more accidents year after year. Approximately 500,000 semi truck accidents occur in the United States each year. These accidents are much more dangerous for smaller passenger vehicles when compared to the semi trucks that cause them, as in many cases the big rigs can drive away undamaged. The passengers and drivers of the smaller vehicles involved are not so lucky, as many victims suffer serious injuries that can even lead to death.

Why Are Semi Truck Accidents So Deadly?

Of the almost 500,000 semi truck accidents that happen in the United States each year, 10 percent involve fatalities and 21 percent involve victims being seriously injured. It is far more likely for a person in a passenger vehicle to be injured or killed in an accident with a semi truck than for the driver of the truck to be injured or killed. Semi trucks can weigh 40 tons or more, which makes them incredibly dangerous when involved in a crash with a 2.5-ton vehicle. Semi trucks are also much more difficult to stop due to their size, which makes slamming on the brakes much more difficult if traffic suddenly stops ahead.

Most semi truck accidents happen on highways and in rural areas – very familiar places in Texas. Almost 57 percent of 2018 fatal semi truck crashes occurred in rural areas, 26 percent occurred on highways, and 13 percent fell into both categories by occurring on rural Interstate highways.

What Causes Semi Truck Accidents?

Semi truck drivers are required to have specialized licenses to operate their large vehicles. There are many rules and regulations involved in driving these trucks safely; however, cargo companies have deadlines to meet and may encourage drivers to push their limits to meet these deadlines. This can encourage unsafe behavior and reckless driving, which lead to serious accidents.

Common causes of semi truck accidents include:

  • Extreme driver fatigue
  • Not seeing cars in large blind spots
  • Inadequate truck maintenance
  • Driving while distracted
  • Lack of training or driver inexperience
  • Loading cargo improperly
  • Drug or alcohol use
  • Driving at unsafe speeds
  • Violating truck laws and regulations
  • Inclement weather and dangerous road conditions

No matter the cause, semi truck accidents can be incredibly dangerous and scary. Victims may be left with serious injuries and high medical bills. Contacting a reliable, experienced semi truck accident attorney will be crucial to pursuing fair compensation. In many cases, the truck driver and truck company (among other entities) can be held accountable for recklessness or negligence that resulted in the trucking accident and subsequent injury.

What Do You Do if You Are In a Semi Truck Crash?

The first thing you should do, as in all motor vehicle crashes, is seek medical attention immediately for any injuries you may have sustained. Also, make every attempt to get information about the accident, including driver information, insurance information, the truck driver’s company name, police reports, and pictures of the accident if possible.

Once you are seen by a medical professional and have started the path to recovery, hire a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to guide you through the tough legal process ahead. Your attorney will help you make a claim against the truck driver, insurance company, trucking company, and any other responsible parties to ensure you receive appropriate compensation for your injuries.

Houston Semi Truck Accident Attorneys

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an accident caused by semi trucks, you may be able to file a Texas truck accident lawsuit to pursue compensation. Filing a lawsuit can be a very stressful and complicated process but it can help provide financial compensation to alleviate the burdens of medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and more. Contact the personal injury trial attorneys at Adame Garza for a free consultation today. There is limited time to act following a Texas semi truck accident, so don’t delay. Se habla Espanol.

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