Orlando Truck Accident Attorneys

At any given moment, there are around two million tractor-trailers operating throughout the United States. Each year, those trucks are involved in 100,000 injury accidents, on average, and the number is increasing each year.

When a large truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the occupants of the passenger vehicle are at significant risk for suffering catastrophic, even fatal, injuries given the size and weight disparity between the two vehicles. These injuries can be devastating to a family.

If you or a family member has been seriously injured in a truck accident that occurred because of someone else’s negligence in Orlando or elsewhere in Florida, you may be entitled to compensation for the physical and emotional injuries the accident caused. An experienced truck accident attorney at Bailey Fisher can help you navigate the legal process necessary to obtain the compensation you deserve.

Facts and Figures on Large Truck Collisions

For decades, America has relied on large trucks to move goods across the country. Despite advances in technology and transportation, we have yet to find a better way to move things from Point A to Point B.

Although there have been improvements in safety, large trucks still present a danger to everyone who shares the roadways with them. Consider the following facts and figures compiled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA):

• In 2017, 4,889 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes, a 9-percent increase from 2016.
• The number of large trucks and buses involved in fatal crashes increased 42 percent from its low of 3,432 in 2009.
• From 2016 to 2017, large truck and bus fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled by all motor vehicles increased by 6.8 percent, from 0.146 to 0.156.
• From 2009 to 2015, injury crashes involving large trucks increased 62 percent to 97,000.
• By 2017, the number of injury crashes was at 116,000.

Common Causes of Large Truck Accidents

In many ways, motor vehicle collisions involving large trucks are similar to collisions involving other types of vehicles. There are some notable differences, though, starting with the size and weight of a large truck. The average tractor-trailer weighs 35,000 pounds when empty. Fully loaded, that same truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. By contrast, the average passenger vehicle weighs around 3,000 pounds.

Common causes of a tractor-trailer accident include:

• Driver fatigue — federal laws have been in place for decades that set strict limits on the number of hours a truck driver may operate his/her vehicle as well as impose rest requirements between days worked. Nevertheless, driver fatigue continues to be a leading cause of trucking accidents in the U.S. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), in collisions where the truck driver was at fault, driver fatigue was a contributing factor 87 percent of the time.
• Distracted driving — the rapidly increasing use of handheld electronic devices has resulted in a corresponding increase in distracted driving. A study by the FMCSA determined that reading or sending the average text takes 4.6 seconds, the equivalent of driving the full length of a football field at highway speed without once looking at the road. Although federal law prohibits the use of these devices by truck drivers, the reality is that some continue to use them. The resulting collision can be disastrous.
• Impaired driving — although the days of truck drivers routinely driving while under the influence of illicit drugs to keep them awake are over, impaired driving continues to be a factor in many trucking accidents. In fact, prescription drug use is a factor in about 25 percent of all truck-involved collisions.
• Equipment failure — state and federal laws require pre-trip inspections of tractor-trailers as well as require trucks to be properly maintained. Despite these requirements, an operator may rush through an inspection or an owner may put off required maintenance in an attempt to keep up with unrealistic delivery schedules. The result may be a tractor-trailer on the road with a tire/wheel defect, brake defect, or an unsecured or overloaded trailer, which may cause a catastrophic collision.

Are You Entitled to Compensation for Your Truck Accident Injury?

A trucking accident can cause life-changing, even fatal, injuries. Unlike car accident cases, however, determining who is responsible is not always straightforward. Several parties could share in the responsibility if the truck was at fault, including the driver, the owner of the truck, the owner of the cargo, and the manufacturer of the truck. In addition, there may be time frames and procedures that must be adhered to in order to protect your right to be fully and fairly compensated.

An experienced Orlando truck accident attorney can help you navigate the complex legal process involved in obtaining full compensation for your injuries. At Bailey Fisher, we will provide a free case evaluation and follow up with the necessary legal action to hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence and recover the financial compensation you deserve for your expenses, losses, pain, and suffering.

Get Help from Experienced Orlando Truck Accident Attorneys

The truck accident attorneys at Bailey Fisher have a wealth of legal knowledge and experience and a strong commitment to justice for all injured victims of negligence and wrongdoing. We understand that truck accident injuries can have devastating effects on you and your family and want to help you during this difficult time.

If you or a family member has been seriously injured in a truck accident, please don’t hesitate to call us at 407-628-2929 or submit our online form.

 

Source

U.S. Department of Transportation. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. (2018, Aug. 8). 2018 Pocket guide to large truck and bus statistics.
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/36537