Though careful, truck drivers experience many big rig accidents
Studies have been done to see if truck drivers are more or less careful than other drivers, and the results have often shown that truck drivers do more than the average driver to be cautious and safe on the road. This makes sense, seeing as how accidents can have a drastic impact on their careers. However, despite this care, studies have shown that these drivers are involved in many accidents.
The U.S. Department of Transportation reported the data for 2006, and it showed that there were 106,000 injuries and 4,995 fatalities from truck accidents in that one year alone.
The problem, in many cases, is that truck drivers have a lot of factors to take into account. All accidents are by no means the same. Mistakes that are made while a crew is loading a truck could lead to an accident, for example.
Additionally, the load itself can play a role in injury and fatality statistics since it contributes to the damage. A truck that crashes while carrying dairy products is clearly not the same type of hazard that a truck carrying oil and gas can be. When the load spills, more people can be injured, which drives the stats up even though that is still just a single accident, involving a single truck.
If you have been hurt in a big rig accident, and if you feel that negligence on the part of the driver or the trucking company played a role in the accident or your injuries, it is very important for you to know what rights you may have to financial compensation. Speak to a truck collision lawyer in Sacramento to learn more.
Source: FindLaw, “Truck Accident Overview” Dec. 23, 2014