Driving an 80,000-pound vehicle for 11 straight hours is not exactly the safest way to make a living, yet there are approximately 3.5 million commercial truckers in the United States. Although CMV drivers tend to have plenty of experience behind the wheel, they are not immune to accidents.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 111,000 people were injured in truck crashes in 2014, and 3,903 lost their lives. Many of these victims and their surviving family endured tremendous emotional hardship, which was compounded by the excessive costs of medical bills and lost income.
If you were hurt or lost a loved one due to a negligent truck driver, you may have grounds for a claim against the at-fault motorist. However, it is not always easy to identify the liable parties after a truck crash. Depending on the cause, the liable parties could be the driver, the owner of the cab, the owner of the rig, a mechanic, or the owner of the freight.
A personal-injury lawyer can help you identify all liable parties and gather the necessary evidence to make a claim. If the crash happened in Mississippi, turn to Ballard Law, PLLC. William E. Ballard is a truck accident attorney in Madison with the knowledge, resources and litigation experience to help you fight for the maximum compensation. Call 769-572-5111 to schedule a free consultation.
What Are the 10 Most Common Causes of 18-Wheeler Crashes?
Semi-trucks can weigh up to 30 times more than passenger vehicles, so it should come as no surprise that an accident with one is likely to cause injuries. You might be surprised to learn, though, that 438,000 trucks were involved in wrecks in 2014, and approximately 73 percent of all injuries and deaths affected passenger-vehicle occupants.
There are several ways to reduce your risk of being involved in a truck accident. One of the most effective is to learn the common causes of truck crashes so you can anticipate and avoid them.
According to a 2007 study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, called the Large Truck Causation Study, the following 10 factors were identified as the most common primary causes of truck wrecks:
- Interruption of traffic flow;
- Driving on unfamiliar roads;
- Inadequate surveillance;
- Driving too fast for the conditions;
- Making an illegal maneuver;
- Inattention;
- Fatigue;
- Illness;
- Inability to anticipate the actions of other road users; and
If you or a member of your family was injured in a truck crash, it is imperative that you take legal action immediately. Over time important evidence, such as the truck’s black box data, could disappear. Witnesses may also relocate or change their contact information.
At Ballard Law, PLLC, you will find an experienced accident attorney with the knowledge and resources to protect your rights. Call 769-572-5111 to schedule a free consultation with a personal-injury lawyer in Madison. Visit http://truck-accident.usattorneys.com/mississippi/ to learn more about car accident injury lawsuits in Mississippi.
