Are semi trucks always at fault?

Because of the theory of “respondeat superior,” truck companies are typically held liable for traffic accidents that one of their drivers caused. This is a Latin phrase meaning “let the superior make answer.”

How many accidents do semi trucks cause?

Did you know that about every 15 minutes, a person is killed or seriously injured in an accident caused by tractor trailers, also called 18-wheelers or big rigs or semi-trucks? In fact, around 500,000 trucking accidents occur each year in the United States, with about 5,000 per year resulting in death.

Do semi truck accidents go trial?

Semi-truck accidents are serious matters that often leave people with catastrophic, life-changing injuries. It might be no surprise, then, that so many truck accident cases are bound for a trial in the courtroom. Although semi-truck accidents don’t always go to trial, many do.

Who is liable for truck accidents?

As the trucker’s employer, the trucking company (also known as a carrier) may bear legal responsibility for the truck drivers’ actions, as well as for the safety of the trucks it owns. In addition to a truck driver and the carrier, several other parties may be liable for a truck accident.

Are 18 wheelers always at fault?

Retain Legal Assistance with Your 18-Wheeler Crash Case Now you know that the truck driver is not always at fault in an accident. There are many parties that could have caused the crash, and sometimes more than one party is to blame. Reach out to a truck crash lawyer at Mahoney & Mahoney, LLC.

Can a semi truck kill you?

However, semi-trucks account for thousands of injuries and deaths each year. The Department of Transportation reported that in 2015 there were over 4,000 people killed in a crash involving a large truck. In the same year, 116,000 people were injured in crashes involving large semi trucks.

How do truckers die?

In 2015, most work-related truck driver deaths were caused by traffic collisions. In most instances, the cause of death was multiple traumatic injuries or disorders.

What happens if you get injured in a semi truck accident?

Tractor-trailer wrecks can leave victims with severe, life-changing injuries. If your life has changed because of a semi-truck accident, it’s important to know how to prepare your personal injury insurance claim for maximum compensation. Tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, or semi-trucks.

Why are tractor trailers dangerous in a crash?

Tractor-trailers are very dangerous in a crash situation. Due to the high risk for death and destruction, trucking laws are strictly enforced. Truck drivers who violate traffic laws or trucking regulations are negligent . This means they did something wrong or failed to act as a reasonable driver would.

What to tell the dispatcher after a semi truck accident?

Admit you are injured and shaken up, and tell the dispatcher if anyone else is hurt, trapped, or thrown from their car. The dispatcher will want to know if there are hazards at the scene like leaking fuel, downed power lines, or if the truck that hit you is carrying a dangerous load.

Which is more dangerous a semi truck or a passenger truck?

Big truck accidents are five times more likely to cause serious injuries and death than accidents involving two or more passenger vehicles. State and local regulations monitor the trucking industry. They ensure big rigs like semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles operate safely.

Why are tractor trailers and semi trucks dangerous?

Tractor-trailers and semi-trucks weigh many tons and travel at very high rates of speed. When a semi-truck collides with a smaller vehicle , the result can be catastrophic and deadly, due to the sheer force of the impact. Tractor-trailers also routinely carry cargo, such as logs, which can dislodge from the trailer and into the road.

What happens if you get hit by a semi truck?

For example, the cargo could dislodge from the trailer onto the roadway and into the windshield of a smaller vehicle, causing serious injuries or deaths. If a tractor-trailer or semi impacts your vehicle at a high rate of speed, you can sustain serious damages, some of which may end up being permanent.

What happens if a tractor trailer goes off the road?

This runaway trailer can strike other vehicles traveling along the highway or roadway. Due to the large size and significant weight of truck trailers, these accidents often produce catastrophic injuries or even death. The maintenance of a commercial truck often falls into a commercial driver’s hands.

Where was the tractor trailer accident in 2015?

In January 2015, a runaway trailer accident on I-95 near Greenwich Connecticut nearly cost a mother her life. A commercial driver from New York was driving a tractor-trailer carrying corrugated cardboard when the truck approached a gentle curve on the interstate.