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These causes greatly emphasize the need for stronger training for truck drivers and better management for fleet controllers. When both truckers and their managers understand the dangers of the road, they have the power to prevent these crashes and save lives..
Commercial trucks and truck drivers are a vital component of America’s livelihood. In this land of consumerism, what are we without the products we enjoy each day? Unfortunately, when mistakes are made, large commercial trucks can pose serious threats to all nearby road users. It is critical that every road user makes an effort to help keep our roadways safe so that we can all feel a little better about getting behind the wheel.
You may be surprised to learn that truck drivers don’t actually cause most of the accidents they are involved in. According to a University of Michigan study, “the actions of drivers of passenger vehicles alone contribute to 70 percent of the crashes.”In other words, 70% of the accidents that truck drivers are involved in, are actually caused by people driving passenger vehicles, such as:Sedans,Wagons,Hatchbacks,Crossovers,SUVs, and, Pickup trucks. qualities of a good personal injury lawyer near texas in orland-park, il.
Instead, most truck collisions happen as a result of several factors that build up to make the perfect storm; causing a collision. The following factors can increase the likelihood of a truck accident:Fatigue, Drinking alcohol, Speeding, Keep in mind that it’s not just truck drivers who need to avoid the aforementioned factors, but all road users must take care and be mindful at all times to avoid collisions.
Our attorneys want to keep everyone safe. The Trucking Industry There are currently 15. 5 million trucks in operation in the U.S., according to the Department of Transportation. The trucking industry also employs about 8. 9 million people. Of those workers, 2 million are truck drivers. Truck driving is a heavily male-dominated profession: Just 4.
are women. Trucks continue to carry most of freight around the nation. About 70 percent of goods transported across the country is carried by a truck, according to the DOT. Planes and trains make up the other 30 percent. Truck drivers work long hours. When on a shift, most drivers work 11 to 14 hours.
Semi truck accidents account for 2. 4 percent of all accidents on U.S. roads. Fatal Truck Accidents About half a million truck crashes occur in the U.S. each year, according to the DOT. One out of every eight of those trucking accidents are fatal. Among fatal crashes, 68 percent occur on rural roads.
Main Causes of Truck Accidents Many careless mistakes can lead to a truck accident. Here are some common truck crash causes our office sees: Brake problems Speeding Hazards in the roadway Drug or alcohol use Fatigue or drowsiness Failing to stay in lane Inattention Texting or talking on a cell phone while driving Top 10 Driver-Reported Factors Here are the 10 most prevalent truck driver-related factors we see in truck accidents, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, followed by the percentage of how often those factors play a role in truck accidents.
Three-axle tractors pulling two-axle trailers account for 89 percent of truck accidents. In just under half of semi wrecks, doubles (two trailers) consisted of a two-axle tractor with a one-axle first trailer and a two-axle second trailer (big truck wrecks). Where Do Truck Accidents Occur? A truck accident can happen in a split-second anytime, anywhere when a semi is on the road.
About 65 percent of all fatal truck accidents happen on trips where the driver is traveling more than 51 miles from his or her base. Crashes during long-haul trips can often occur because of fatigue. Truckers average less than five hours of sleep per night while on the road. Sleep loss and fatigued driving is similar to being impaired by alcohol.
After 24 hours of being awake without sleep, a driver is operating under the same capacity as if he or she had a blood-alcohol content of 0. 10 percent. When should you contact a car accident lawyer? near california in orland-park, il. Some states see more truck accidents than others. Texas, California, Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania lead the nation in truck crashes. When Are Truck Accidents Likely to Occur? Truck accidents most frequently happen during weekdays by a large margin.
A truck is also more likely to crash during daytime hours, and two-thirds of all truck accidents occur on rural roads, according to the NHTSA. Get a Truck Accident Attorney to Represent You Here’s another statistic for you: truck accident victims who hire a truck crash lawyer are according to a 2004 study from the Insurance Research Council (oklahoma city truck accident attorney).
1 reason for truck accidents, it makes sense that more emphasis needs to be placed on driver training (best semi truck accident attorney). In addition to the growing incidence of truck accidents, several other key factors demonstrate the need for better driver training. Over the next 30 years, trucks will move 40 percent more freight than they currently do, according to the U.S.
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When a worker has an on-the-job crash that results in an injury, the cost to their employer is $74,000. Costs can exceed $500,000 when a fatality is involved. The real tragedy is that these crashes are largely preventable through a companywide commitment to make driver safety a priority. 5. Substance Abuse EMC recommends substance abuse screening at the time of hire and regular screenings throughout their employment to ensure drivers not only comply with the law, but are also not driving under the influence of any substance that would affect their safety and the safety of others.
Clearly define the number of violations an employee/driver can have before losing their driving privileges and provide training when needed.—All crashes, regardless of severity, should be reported to the employee’s supervisor as soon as possible. Understanding the root causes of crashes and why they are happening, regardless of fault, forms the basis for preventing them in the future.—Selecting, properly maintaining and routinely inspecting company vehicles is an important part of preventing crashes and related losses.
Driving while fatigued is the number one safety issue facing the trucking industry and is a factor in almost 40% of all crashes in the U.S. The drivers for these trucking companies are under considerable pressure to move the cargo as quickly as possible, making 16 hour days not uncommon.
There are Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations which address the hours of service that drivers are allowed to log. Unfortunately, many trucking companies find ways around these restrictions or flat out choose to violate the regulations, putting us all in danger. Many times, in order to keep their jobs, truckers have no choice but to keep the wheels moving.
These trucks are 10,000 pound monsters, are very hard to maneuver and are very unlike a passenger vehicle in their behavior. It takes great skill and experience to drive one safely and responsibly. According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, more than 25% of the truck drivers involved in crashes resulting in a fatality in 2004 had received at least one prior speeding conviction.
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