About 98 percent of all 18 wheeler truck accidents result in severe injuries in which at least one occupant of the involved passenger car(s) is killed. In fact, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), 500,000 trucking accidents occur annually on American roadways. In these collisions, approximately 5,000 deaths, and another 123,000 are seriously injured.
Tragically, such severe accidents can have long-term, disastrous effects on a physical, emotional and financial level, as serious injuries will require expensive treatments and can preclude an individual from being able to work to pay for them. Although these situations are dire, it’s crucial that 18 wheeler accident victims remember that they are not alone. Skilled accident lawyers are dedicated to representing their rights to help them get compensation so they can recover and move on with their lives.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a big rig trucking crash, or your loved one has died in one of these accidents, you may have a legal claim and be eligible to obtain a settlement that compensates you for:
- Outstanding medical bills
- Ongoing treatment costs
- Lost wages
- Permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Burial and funeral costs
Injured parties or surviving family members of the deceased can learn more about their legal rights and find out if they have a case by attending a complimentary, no-obligation consultation with an esteemed accident lawyer. To make an appointment, contact us today.
Where Most Big Rig Accidents Occur & Why
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Research indicates that 67 percent of all trucking accidents occur in rural areas; 68 percent occur in the daytime; and, 80 percent occur on Saturdays and Sundays. Research has also proven that about 75 percent of truck accidents are caused by another driver’s – not the truck driver’s – errors.
Of all the states in the U.S., Wyoming has the most truck accident deaths. Other states with a high rate of big rig accident fatalities include Arkansas, Alabama, West Virginia, and Mississippi. The states with the least trucking accident deaths include Hawaii, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
Big rigs, tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and other large motor vehicles are particularly dangerous and more likely to cause severe accidents due to the vehicles’ enormous weight (Big rigs, by law, are allowed to weight up to 80,000 lbs gross), as well as its need for 20 to 40 percent more stopping distance (than passenger cars). Additionally, the following factors have been known to contribute to serious truck crashes:
- Driver distraction
- Driver fatigue
- Driver inexperience or lack of training
- Driver intoxication
- Failure of vehicle parts
- Failure to obey traffic laws
- Objects (debris or animals) in the roadway
- Poor road
- Poor weather conditions
Injuries Caused by Big Rig Crashes
The precise nature and severity of truck accident injuries will vary according to the exact details of the incident. Common big rig collision injuries may include (but aren’t limited to):
- Bone fracture
- Burns
- Disfigurement
- Lacerations
- Loss of limb
- Permanent disability
- Puncture wounds
- Spinal and/or neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Death
18 Wheeler Accident Settlements
Compensation for truck accident injuries will only be awarded to victims who can prove that the crash was caused or intensified by the negligence or recklessness of another party, including another driver, a passenger, a bystander, a trucking company, or an equipment manufacturer. The amount of a particular truck accident settlement will depend on:
- The exact cause of the accident
- The severity of the resulting injuries and property damage (Higher settlements are awarded when more extensive damage has occurred.)
- The defendant’s driving record (i.e. whether the entity has been responsible for causing previous truck or car accidents)
Previous 18 wheeler accident settlements include:
- $600,000 for a man who developed severe back injuries after a semi-truck ran into his vehicle
- $850,00 for a man who sustained serious neck and head injuries after an uninsured truck driver ran into his vehicle
- $1.2 million for a man who had severe back injuries after an 18 wheeler rear-ended him
- $3.4 million for a man who was critically injured after a tractor-trailer rear-ended him
18 Wheeler Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been severely injured in an 18 wheeler trucking accident – or if a loved one has died in such a collision, you should consult with an experienced truck accident attorney to:
- Determine whether you have a legal claim and are entitled to a settlement
- Learn more about the process of filing, presenting, and winning an 18 wheeler accident settlement
- Get expert advice regarding how to proceed
- Secure top-of-the-line representation for all future legal proceedings
To encourage injured parties to seek the settlements they deserve, seasoned accident lawyers will work on contingency so no payment is due unless the case is won. To discuss the details of your case, contact our truck accident lawyers today.