Thousands of fatal big truck crashes involving 18 wheeler trucks or semi trucks occur every year, leaving grieving relatives and major financial damage. Even though there is no question how destructive these semi-truck collisions are, there is argument about who is actually responsible for these tragedies.

Trucking companies often bear the brunt of responsibility for these 18-wheeler accidents, often settling the truck accident lawsuits outside of court. Truck accident settlements can cost millions of dollars for the trucking companies, which causes the trucking companies to employ aggressive employees and biased insurance representatives in attempt to decrease the amount of compensation the victims receive.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the years 2011 and 2012 alone, over 7,000 deaths occurred from fatal car accidents, with over 190,000 injuries. From these truck accident statistics, approximately one in 10 of these deaths involved in an 18 wheeler truck, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Passenger cars are often crushed in semi-truck collisions, due to being 30 times smaller than the semi-truck, often causing fatalities. If the passengers from the smaller cars are lucky enough to survive, they often have to contend with devastating injuries like brain damage, spinal cord damage, burns, amputations, and disfigurement.

The compensation amount is vital to the victims and their families, because medical bills often are too much for the family to pay. In addition to the medical bills, the victims must often contend with partial or total vehicle loss, missed wages, and sometimes unemployment. In the cases where there is a death, the stakes are much higher for the trucking companies and for the families of the victims, often complicating legal matters.

In an example from 2014, multiple fatalities occurred in an 18-wheeler accident involving American Eagle Logistics LLC and truck driver Charles P. A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against the company and its truck driver by Robert G., Virginia B., and Jamie T., after their family members died in a fatal semi-truck collision involving an 18 wheeler truck owned by the defendants.

According to the 18 wheeler accident lawsuit, the decedents Annabel G. and Jimmy M. Jr. had been driving northbound when the defendant truck driver struck Annabel and Jimmy with the semi-truck he was driving. The decedent was reportedly driving a common passenger vehicle. The decedents reportedly died from the injuries they sustained from the semi truck crash, which led to Annabel and Jimmy’s family members to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the truck driver and his employer.

In the 18 wheeler accident lawsuit, American Eagle Logistics LLC was named as the respondent superior and is therefore partially to blame for the deaths of the plaintiffs’ family members. The plaintiffs are seeking 1 million dollars in damages, and the case is still ongoing.

Overview of Semi-Truck Collision Causes

As devastating as these semi-truck collisions are, and as much as the victims and their families may deserve to be compensated, it is never entirely clear on what the causes are. For example, a collision may have occurred because the truck driver had very little sleep because he had been forced to drive long hours by his employer. Another example, bad weather combined with a delivery deadline did not allow the trucker to take adequate precautions in driving in adverse conditions like snow or ice.

However, many of the circumstances surrounding the crashes often stem back to trucking company negligence. Some of the most common reasons for 18 wheeler accidents include, but are not limited to:

• Driver Fatigue: As mentioned before, truck drivers are often forced to be on the road for long periods of time without resting. On average, truck drivers who are behind the wheel for more than eight hours a day are more likely to be involved in a semi-truck collision, according to IIHS.
• Wage and Hour Violations: According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there are limits to how many hours a commercial semi truck driver can drive. However, because truck drivers can log their own hours, they may falsify them by driving during break or resting periods to make better time, when they recorded taking their break.
• Defective Equipment: Studies have shown that many trucking companies do not take the time or money to upkeep old trucks, but are often not willing to buy new ones either. The most common but neglected maintenance needs for semi trucks often include: brakes, steering equipment, and lighting.