Truckers make up only a small portion of the road population, but they account for a significant number of traffic crash deaths. According to Forbes, only about 8 percent of vehicles on America’s roads are big rigs, yet an estimated 4,500 people die each year in truck-related collisions.
The size and weight of commercial vehicles certainly play a role in this disproportionate statistic. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety warns that most fatalities in truck crashes are occupants of passenger cars.
Trucks pose a risk to both those who drive them and those who travel around them. If you have been involved in a crash with a large truck and are unsure of your legal rights, speak to a Nashville personal injury lawyer at the Law Office of George R. Fusner Jr.
From the moment you call our office to the day your case is resolved, you will be treated with the utmost compassion and professionalism. Call 615-251-0005 or 800-427-8960 to arrange a free initial consultation with one of our truck wreck attorneys today.
10 Common Causes of Commercial Truck Crashs’
Several factors make driving inside or around a commercial truck inherently risky. Trucks are large, cumbersome vehicles that can be tricky to operate and frustrating for other drivers to negotiate, and while some research indicates that many truck accidents are caused by the reckless or impatient actions of passenger car drivers, other studies suggest the difficult working conditions of truckers make them prone to crashes.
Passenger car drivers are often unaware of a truck’s performance limits and do not take the necessary precautions around them as a result. Common mistakes these drivers make include:
- Cutting off truck drivers by impatiently changing lanes in front of them;
- Lingering in a truck’s large blind spots;
- Overtaking while failing to notice that a truck is turning;
- Misjudging a truck’s size and speed at an intersection;
- Refusing to adjust speed accordingly as a truck begins to merge;
- Weaving between trucks on a highway; and
- Passing without ensuring there is sufficient headway.
Truck drivers have challenging jobs that require them to work long hours in unpredictable conditions and strange locations. These conditions can lead to:
- Fatigue and falling asleep at the wheel;
- Driving at faster-than-appropriate speeds to meet deadlines; and
- Poor maintenance of vehicles for the sake of getting back to work quickly.
If you were hurt in a commercial truck wreck, you may be wondering who is liable for your damages and how you should approach the claims process. A truck wreck attorney from the Law Office of George R. Fusner Jr. can answer your questions and help you navigate the proceedings.
George R. Fusner Jr. has been a practicing attorney since 1977. He has a reputation for tough litigation and a strategy for winning substantial settlements and verdicts. He has run a trucking company and knows the ropes. Call 615-251-0005 or 800-427-8960 to schedule your free initial consultation. Visit USAttorneys.com for more information on truck accident injury claims.
Law Office of George R. Fusner Jr.
424 Church Street, Suite 2000
Nashville, TN 37219
800-427-8960
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