Factors in large truck accidents
Georgia truck accidents can be the result of many factors. Some of the commonly known factors can include negligent behavior, such as driving while impaired or distracted. However, there are several lesser-known factors of which motorists should be aware.
The United States Department of Labor reports that approximately 475,000 large trucks are in accidents each year that are responsible for more than 140,000 injuries and 5,000 deaths annually . Every year, the statistics may change, but the incidences of fatal large truck accidents are steadily rising.
Twenty-nine percent of the occupants of smaller vehicles who were killed in 2015 in accidents involving large trucks died as a result of head-on crashes with the truck. This indicates that the drivers of standard vehicles are not properly passing large trucks or are driving past the center line due to distraction or drowsiness.
An additional 29 percent of fatalities resulted from rear-ending a large truck. Likely causes of these deaths may be not being ready for how long it takes for a large commercial truck to come to a stop or driving too closely to the rear of a large truck. Another lesser-known factor in large truck accidents is the day of the week. Large truck drivers who work Monday through Friday hauling and delivering cargo are most likely to be involved in a fatal accident on a Thursday. This is because as the end of the work week approaches, the drivers are more likely to be tired mentally and physically.
Semi truck accidents can result in catastrophic injuries to occupants of other vehicles. If it can be determined that the collision was caused by a truck driver who was negligent in some fashion, an attorney could in many cases help a victim recover compensation for medical bills and other losses.