Commercial Truck Accidents Are Real And Dangerous Threats To Floridians
Michael Babboni
Trucking Accidents
Transport companies are adding more and more trucks to their fleets these days. Why? Well, for one, consumer spending trends have quickly changed over the past decade or so. Many people have shifted from shopping at brick and mortar retailers to online outlets. Places like Amazon, Walmart, and more are offering one to two-day shipping. Thus, shipping entities have to put lots of drivers on the roadways to keep up with the demand.Interesting Facts About Commercial Trucks
Nothing is necessarily wrong with the trucks being on the roads as they assure that products arrive at their destinations on time. Plus, many people rely on the trucking industry for a steady paycheck. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1,871,700 heavy and tractor-trailer drivers in 2016. That number is estimated to grow by 6-percent between 2016 and 2026, creating another 108,400 openings.
While these big-rigs are essential, they can also be dangerous as well. An article published on Reference.com states that semi-trailers usually weigh about 32,000 pounds when they are empty. Meanwhile, the truck itself is typically around 20,000 pounds. The majority of U.S. highways have a maximum weight limit of 80,000 pounds, so it is possible for one of these heavy tractor-trailers to be next to, behind, or in front of your vehicle at any given moment.
In the meantime, passenger cars and trucks tend to weigh between 3,000 and 6,000 pounds. Therefore, as readers can see, that is a significant difference when compared to eighteen wheelers. That is why truck accidents are some of the worst kinds. Being rear-ended, side-swiped, or T-boned by one of the trucks can have drastic consequences for people in a conventional vehicle.
Commercial Truck Accidents Leave Participants With Lasting Injuries
The possibilities are endless when it comes to injuries and tractor-trailer crashes. Each instance is unique and different, which means in one case, a person may get no more than whiplash, while in another, an individual could lose a limb. Wrongful death is a concern too. Stats from the U.S. Department of Transportation show that there were 4,455 fatal crashes involving large trucks or buses in 2017. Those incidents resulted in 5,005 fatalities. Thus, as persons can see, the threats are real. Other injuries that people commonly receive include but are not limited to...
• Fractures And Broken Bones
• Organ Damage And Internal Bleeding
• Full Or Partial Paralysis
• Permanent Disability
• Traumatic Brain Injury
Why Do Truck Accidents Happen?
There are various reasons as to why tractor-trailers can become involved in crashes. For one, these operators spend countless hours out on the open road. While there are regulations that they must abide by such as getting so many hours of sleep per day and working so many days on and having other ones off, drowsy driving can still occur. Should the individual happen to fall asleep, nothing is off the table. They could swerve into oncoming or another lane of traffic, rear-end a vehicle due to everything coming to a standstill in front of them, or even hit a curb and flip the truck causing a multiple car pile up.
Texting while behind the wheel is a possibility as well. After all, truck drivers are just like everybody else. They have their smartphones by their sides at all times. When persons commit this act, many of the same outcomes mentioned above can become a reality in a hurry. Also, speeding can be an issue. Some drivers get in a hurry because deliveries have to arrive on time. They may push their rig a little too hard and are not able to stop when a car pulls out in front of them.
Compensation Could Be In A Plaintiff's Future
Shipping companies usually have legal teams waiting for such accidents to arise. They pull out all of the stops to discredit claims, including placing the blame on the victims. The attorneys only have one concern in mind, which is to prevent their client from paying out a substantial amount of money. If you become involved in a truck accident and the driver, a defective part, an improperly balanced load, or something else is the cause, contact the St. Pete lawyer to discuss your legal options. The initial case review is free, and there is nothing to lose as you only pay if compensation is awarded.