Facts about trucking and safety: part two

On behalf of Aiken and Aiken P.C. Personal Injury Attorneys posted in Car Accidents, on Friday, May 24, 2013

In our last post we introduced some basic facts about the commercial trucking industry, which has a vast impact on transportation in the United States. We focused on things like shipping volume and employment last time, which means it’s time to look at some safety facts. For example, there are several common types of accidents involving trucks. On the highway, running off the road, rear-end collisions and lane changes account for more than half of reported accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, installing electronic stability control systems in American trucks could go a long way in preventing accidents. Vehicle collision avoidance technologies have come a long way in recent years. NHTSA estimates that installing stability control systems could prevent about 4,659 crashes every year. Accidents involving a commercial truck can result in devastating damage because of high speeds and very heavy vehicles. In addition, it can be difficult to determine who exactly was responsible for the accident. Was it a negligent driver, a trucking company that requires its drivers to work dangerously long shifts or the manufacturer of a detective auto part? As you and your representative try to determine the answers to these questions you may be going head to head with an insurance company experienced in handling accident claims – both your insurer and the one covering the truck driver and/or their employer. It is important to remember that insurance adjusters have a job to do and that job does not always align with your best interests. For these reasons it is important to work with someone who understands trucking accident cases and can mount a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident caused by a large truck it is wise to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. Source: Insurance Journal, “10 Things to Know About the Trucking Industry,” May 13, 2013