“In 2014, 3,660 people died in crashes involving commercial trucks. 16% of those deaths were truck occupants, 68% were passenger vehicle occupants, and 15% were pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists.”
Every day thousands of commercial trucks drive along highways and rural roads all across the United States, transporting an enormous amount of goods and materials for large corporations; at times even carrying hazardous material. Naturally, because of the sheer size of an 18-wheeler, accidents involving commercial trucks can be much more disastrous than those between two regularly sized vehicles. In fact, a fully loaded commercial truck can weigh 25 times as much as a traditionally sized vehicle.
With this in mind, drivers sharing the road with these large trucks should be aware at all times of their surroundings, and the actions of the other drivers. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a commercial truck, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys is dedicated to assisting victims of commercial truck collisions and helping them achieve justice for their injuries.
Understandably, because of the “heavyweight” structure of these trucks, they can be quite intimidating to other drivers on the road, especially inexperienced ones. The operation of 18-wheelers can be a bit intricate, and many truck companies tend to expect unreasonably quick delivery of shipments. Nor do companies consider the pressures they bestow on the drivers to meet their demands.
Unfortunately, the driver’s physical well-being, the number of hours they’ve slept, and even the weather, all tend to be background noise in comparison to the importance of the shipment’s delivery. Truck drivers must – despite consequences to attention span, reaction time, or fatigue – put the shipment before their own safety. Sadly, accidents caused by tired truck drivers are very common.
Also, considering that these commercial vehicles do not have the same maneuverability in traffic as ordinary automobiles, it’s no wonder that they are involved in various forms of accidents that traditional vehicles are not susceptible to. The drivers of 18-wheelers must deal with numerous blind spots because of their large size and may unknowingly drive into occupied lanes. That’s why it is exceedingly important to be on full alert whenever you are driving alongside these commercial vehicles. Remember, just because you are driving safely and responsibly does not necessarily mean the other drive is doing the same, and the data speaks for itself.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration claims that in recent years, accidents involving commercial vehicles have cost the American public approximately $83 billion. Furthermore, between 2002 and 2011 there were over 45,000 deaths due to accidents involving large trucks, and more than a million injuries occurred in these incidents. In 2013 alone, Texas reported 359 deaths in collisions involving large trailers, with hundreds of other people requiring medical attention due to severe injuries.
To determine who the responsible party is in a commercial truck collision, it is vital to carefully investigate and consider all individuals and companies who may be at fault, as well as the various factors that may have led to the accident. Realistically, the driver of the 18-wheeler is not always to blame. The J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys takes into consideration a myriad of possibilities and thoroughly analyzes all factors including: the owner of the truck, the company or individual who was leasing the vehicle, the truck manufacturer, the company or individual responsible for the shipment, road conditions, and other such variables. By intensively investigating all these various aspects, J. Gonzalez can help you discover the party at fault and get you the justice you deserve.
Remember, if you have been involved in a commercial truck collision, it is especially crucial that you obtain information and details about the collision immediately. Victims should obtain the police report as quickly as possible, as this form provides critical information, such as the identity of the truck driver, the company for which they work for, and other such relevant details about the accident. All medical documents, professional diagnoses, and medical bills are also important when seeking compensation for injuries.
We understand that after a brutal accident with a massive commercial vehicle, the last thing you may have energy to do is fight. Your primary focus should undoubtedly be on getting back to your healthy-self. But while you are regaining your strength and recovering, let J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys fight you legal battles. Together we can win the compensation your pain merits.
