Heavy Trucking Accidents
Heavy trucks transport the goods that keep our economy running. According to the American Trucking Associations (ATA), three million truck drivers use nearly three million heavy trucks to move over 9.2 billion tons of freight annually. These powerful and heavy vehicles may be the lifeblood of our economy, but they are also capable of causing significant destruction to smaller vehicles.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 3,921 people killed and 104,000 people injured in heavy truck accidents in the United States in the year 2012. That is a 4 percent increase from the 3,781 people killed in truck accidents in the year 2011. As our economy continues to improve and grow, these numbers will only go up. More business means more trucks, and more trucks means more opportunities for truck accidents.
One of the many reasons why heavy trucking accidents are so dangerous is that the trailer of a truck can easily crush the roof of a car. Many cars are the perfect size to slide at least partially underneath a trailer during a collision. Unless the trailer has adequate side rails and headers, this type of crash could prove devastating for the occupants of the smaller vehicle. Roof crush accidents often result in life-changing injuries such as paralysis, brain damage, and even death.
Heavy trucks are not only dangerous for occupants of smaller vehicles, but also for truck drivers. Many heavy trucks have old, aging tires that are on the verge of failure. Others have defective seat belts that do not adequately secure drivers in the event of a crash. In other cases, serious injuries are suffered by drivers because of defective cab guards that fail to prevent shifting cargo. Of course, even trucks that are in proper working order can prove dangerous to drivers if the cargo is loaded improperly.
The majority of truck accidents, however, do not result from vehicle defects but from driver negligence. Dangerous drivers can be held accountable for the damages they cause. If you have been hurt in a Florida truck accident, it is crucial that you receive legal guidance. Receiving fair compensation from an insurance provider or trucking company can prove challenging. An experienced Florida truck accident attorney can help you secure adequate support for your medical bills, lost wages, suffering and other related damages.
