Truck accidents have the potential to cause needless injuries and significant and expensive damage. Like the majority of most auto accidents, truck accidents are impacted by road and weather conditions but are most commonly caused by driver error.
Nearly 37 million commercial trucks were registered for business purposes in 2018 according to the America Trucking Association. Although statistics vary depending on the source, a November 2018 article in HD Fleet Magazine indicted that the average cost of a commercial truck accident with one injured person is nearly $150,000. This cost more than doubles when the accident involves a semi-truck pulling one trailer, and to roughly $7 million when the accident involves a fatality. These numbers multiply if more fatalities or injuries occur.
When tractor-trailers and buses are driven carelessly they can become lethal weapons with the potential to significantly injure other drivers or pedestrians. Due to the sheer size and weight of commercial vehicles, a collision between a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck can be disastrous, even fatal. The resulting costs can take a tremendous toll on the lives of the people involved and their families.
The vast majority of truck drivers work hard to make a living and take careful precautions to drive safely. The lawyers at Bashore Green understand this. They also understand and apply the law in every situation. I
However, there are a small minority of truck drivers or companies that do not take these same precautions. Too often, accidents occur because of one or more of several reasons: