Semi-truck and other commercial vehicle wrecks: Who’s affected?
Were you injured in an 18-wheeler or other commercial vehicle accident? You may be able to make a legal claim to cover your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages.
It’s the nightmare we face every time we take to the road: An accident involving an 18-wheel semi-truck. They can flip, swerve, sideswipe, jackknife, stall, and may have difficulty stopping (particularly on hills and curves), even when the brakes are in top condition. Sometimes the driver falls asleep on long hauls.
Vehicles insured and classified as “commercial” include smaller trucks, vans, and even cars in some instances. Semi, tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler, and big rig are terms used to describe a trailer pulled by a tractor cab. The semi and other large truck wreck statistics are staggering. According to TruckInfo.net:
- In 2022, there were 166,853 accidents involving a large truck in the US. Of those, 99,600 involved semis.
- In 2022, some 72,000 people were injured in accidents involving a large truck. That’s one person injured in a truck accident every 7 minutes.
- 4,768 truck accidents were fatal in 2022. Some 3,000 trucks were involved in these accidents.
- Approximately 65% of truck accidents occur on interstate highways and other freeways.
Approximately 55% of these accidents occur in rural areas, with the remaining 45% occurring in urban environments.
- In 2022, Texas led the country in fatal truck accidents.
- There are 3.5 million truck drivers in the US. This figure includes both employee and self-employed drivers of semis and other truck types.
Do You Qualify?
If you were in an accident caused at least in part by the negligence of the truck driver or the trucking company, there may be a path toward meaningful compensation. You may be able to get legal help if:
- The accident occurred sometime within the last three years; and
You or your loved one went to a hospital for treatment.
Fill out the form on this page for more information.
Truck accidents often attributed to negligence
Large truck accidents can be caused by several potential factors: poor road conditions, reckless driving by others, and/or the negligence of truck drivers or trucking companies.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA):
“Motor vehicle crashes are complex events. Usually they involve two or more vehicles. Elements that influence the occurrence of a crash may take place hours, days, or months before the crash. They include driver training and experience, vehicle design and manufacture, highway condition and traffic signaling, and weather conditions. Other elements may take place immediately before a crash, such as a decision to turn in traffic, a tire blowout, or snow. Crash reconstruction experts rarely conclude that crashes are the result of a single factor.
“Fatigue, drinking alcohol, and speeding are major factors in motor vehicle crashes overall. Although their presence does not always result in a crash, these three factors, as well as other driver, vehicle, and environmental factors, can increase the risk that a crash will occur.”
It goes on to list in order the leading cause of large truck accidents:
- Brake problems
- Traffic flow interruption (congestion, previous crash)
- Prescription drug use
- Traveling too fast for conditions
- Unfamiliarity with roadway
- Roadway problems
- Required to stop before crash (traffic control device, crosswalk)
- Over-the-counter drug use
- Distractions
- Fatigue
Injuries
Survivors of large truck accidents can suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, internal bleeding, and back or neck injuries—life changes that can impact your ability to make a living, and cause you chronic pain, debilitation and trauma. Money won’t fix everything, but compensation may be able to ease the burden and reduce stress.
Commercial/ vehicle accident investigation
If you were injured in an accident involving a semi or other commercial vehicle within the last three years and you went to the hospital for treatment as a result, you may be able to join this trucking and commercial vehicle accident lawsuit investigation to pursue compensation.
Please fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for a FREE case evaluation.
How to drive safely around large trucks or buses
Stay out of blind spots
If you can’t see the driver in the truck’s side mirror, presume the driver can’t see you.
Pass safely
Make sure you can see the driver in the bus or truck’s side mirror before passing. Don’t linger. Don’t pass on a downgrade because this is where trucks tend to speed up. If you move in front too quickly, you’re likely to be in a blind spot, and the driver may not see you in time.
Stay back
Because trucks are so high off the ground, if you fail to stop in time (or get hit from behind), your vehicle could slide under the truck. Be particularly careful on an upgrade, where a truck might roll back.
Anticipate wide turns
Trucks swing wide and may even begin a turn in a middle lane. Never try to squeeze by.
Be patient
Rules of the road and safety technology put operating restrictions on trucks that can’t be overridden because you are in a hurry. Don’t honk, weave, make rude gestures or in any way attempt to rattle the driver or force a faster pace.
You know the rest, but remember:
- Buckle up.
- Don’t drive when you’ve been drinking or taking meds.
- Eliminate distractions such as eating, phoning, texting, fiddling with the radio or turning to speak to a passenger.
- Take a break. Driving is tiring.
GET HELP – IT’S FREE
Trucking accident lawsuit investigation
If you qualify, an attorney will contact you to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you.
After you fill out the form, an attorney(s) or their agent(s) may contact you to discuss your legal rights.
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