Semi-Truck Accidents Are Less Common, More Deadly

Ten percent of Kentucky State traffic accidents causing at least one fatality involved a semi-truck. In the United States, large truck accidents including commercial vehicle accidents take eleven deaths every day and cause 100,000 injuries each year. As has been true for most places around the country, death and injury from semi-truck crashes have been reduced over the past ten years, but it’s important to note this reduction has more to do with a general reduction in semi-truck accidents. Additional regulations aimed at preventing truck drivers from operating their vehicles when tired appear, at least initially, to be effective in reducing accidents.

The truth remains that semi-trucks are far larger and more powerful than passenger vehicles and can weigh up to sixteen times more. If you are involved in a crash with a large truck, you are very likely to sustain serious injury, possibly leading to death.

Another reason semi-trucks are more deadly has to do with their height from the ground to the bottom of the truck. In an accident, cars can be pushed underneath the truck by impact, usually causing catastrophic injuries to the car’s driver and passengers. These kinds of accidents are called override accidents.

Rhoads & Rhoads personal injury lawyers, has been protecting the rights of the injured throughout Western Kentucky for over 45 years. If you or a loved one have been injured by a truck accident, our team of experienced trial attorneys and knowledgeable support staff are available to provide you legal advice that will help you through this difficult time and get you the compensation you deserve.

Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents

In addition to having a higher risk of fatalities, injuries caused to survivors of semi-truck accidents can also be quite severe. These injuries are often life-changing, requiring significant changes to daily life for the victim, as well as the victim’s family. Potential injuries can include:

• Internal Organ Damage
• Severe Burns
• Disfigurement
• Amputation Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia
• Back Injury
• Neck Injury
• Broken Bones

Unique Causes of Truck Accidents

Certainly tractor-trailer and truck accidents occur for many of the same reasons other vehicle accidents occur: excessive speed, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, distracted driving, fatigued driving, and bad weather conditions. In fact, the top three causes of semi-truck accidents include driver fatigue and distracted driving. The third major cause of truck accidents is problems with truck maintenance.

There are other particulars about semi-trucks that create accident risks unique to large trucks. Brake failure and overloaded trailers can cause horrific accidents, particularly when driving on a road with a grade. Tire blowouts, wide turns, broken warning or safety devices, failure to yield, and simple driver error all create dangerous situations for the other vehicles on the road. If the truck begins to tip over or jackknifes, the risks to other drivers are very high.

Complexities of Semi-Truck Accidents

Trucking accidents can be more complex than other motor vehicle accidents. As we’ve discussed, the injuries are often more severe. For this reason and because of the high cost of compensating truck accident victims, the trucking companies carry extensive insurance policies. This does not, however, mean they are happy to pay damages to a victim. On the contrary, the trucking companies and their insurance companies immediately attempt to redirect fault and minimize the truck driver’s liability. For this reason, it is critical to find an experienced attorney who will fight for you against these powerful trucking interests.

Once on the case, the attorneys at Rhoads & Rhoads will immediately start investigating the accident, gaining access to the driver’s log and other information. We work closely with experienced expert witnesses, those who reconstruct accidents, and your medical doctors. We do a thorough investigation of every accident identifying any witnesses and collecting all evidence.

Owensboro and Madisonville Truck Accident Lawyers — No Recovery, No Fee

With personal injury law offices in Owensboro and Madisonville, Rhoads & Rhoads represents truck accident victims throughout Western Kentucky. We offer free initial consultations, and all cases are taken on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no payment required upfront. We get paid only if we win or settle your case, so there is NO RISK involved.

Call our law firm at 888-709-9329 or contact us by e-mail to schedule an appointment with one of our Madisonville or Owensboro personal injury attorneys.