How Often Do Truck Drivers Get Into Accidents?

Truck accidents are not uncommon in the United States. Trucking remains one of the best ways to transport goods all across the country. Most truckers are attentive, hard-working professionals who are always looking out for other motorists. Unfortunately, as is the case in any profession, a few bad actors can cause serious damage. Negligent truck drivers, as well as negligent parties elsewhere in the chain of operation, do cause deadly crashes daily. You may have a case if you were injured. For a free case review, please call our South Carolina law firm.

Trucking Accident Statistics

Large tractor trailers traveling in traffic on an interstate highway at dusk

The latest large-scale statistics were collected in 2017 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The report tells us the following:

  • 4,102 people died in large truck accidents in 2017
  • 17 percent of those killed were occupants/drivers of the large trucks
  • 68 percent of those killed were passenger vehicle occupants
  • 14 percent were bicyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists
  • 11 percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths were caused by large truck accidents

Truck accidents occur every day, multiple times a day in the United States.

Was a Truck Driver or Another Party At Fault?

Even when a truck driver gets in a crash, it isn’t necessarily the driver’s fault. There could be other parties within the chain of operation that are responsible. To clarify that point, let’s look at some of the main reasons these crashes occur:

  • Driver fatigue
  • Driver intoxication
  • Driver recklessness
  • Driver inexperience
  • Inadequate training
  • Poor hiring practices
  • Overloaded or unbalanced truck cargo
  • Poor vehicle maintenance
  • Defective truck parts
  • Unrealistic scheduling
  • Violations of hours-of-service regulations

As someone involved in a crash of this magnitude and destruction, you may have little to no memory of the events leading up to the impact or collision. On the other hand, you may remember clearly. Jot down notes of anything you can recall.

The experienced attorneys at our law firm put all of our resources to work as we investigate and reconstruct the details of the truck accident. As skilled trial lawyers, we are able to prepare a case for trial and vigorously pursue the best possible settlement or verdict. After talking to you in your free case evaluation, we can begin to identify who is at fault so that we can demonstrate that negligence to judges, juries, mediators and/or insurance companies.

Catastrophic injuries are traumatic to experience, expensive to treat and painful to live with. The true cost may be incalculable, but you can depend on us to pursue every last dollar you deserve. Medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering are some of the damages we may seek in your case.

Find Out How Our Attorneys Pursue Justice for You

Have you been injured in a tractor-trailer accident in Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Kingstree, Marion or elsewhere in South Carolina? Was a loved one injured or killed in this type of crash? If so, you may be wondering how you can protect your rights, and get the injury compensation you need and deserve. For a complimentary consultation with our experienced accident lawyers, please contact us today.

Whetstone Perkins & Fulda
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