Need an Injury Lawyer for a Delaware Truck Accident?
In 2014, Delaware only reported 12 fatalities relating to truck accidents. This is wonderful news for the state, as many other states have fatalities in the hundreds. However, we wish to do everything possible to reduce this number to 0. Why do these accidents occur with such frequency? This is due to many other factors, including the fact that trucks tend to be well over 10,000 pounds, reaching up to 80,000 at their largest. If you take a look at a passenger vehicle, you find that they reach about 5,000 pounds, which shows us why the risk of these fatalities is so prevalent.
In truth, both passenger vehicles and large truck drivers contribute to these deadly accidents on our roadways. Truck drivers are trained to be some of the safest drivers on our roads, who abide by certain regulations to keep other drivers safe from harm in the U.S. Some of the common reasons for truck accidents every year include:
- Failing to see other vehicle drivers in blind spots behind or beside trucks
- Left-turn accidents that happen in front of vehicles
- Unsafe passing
- Speeding
- When a trucking company inadequately trains a driver on safety, defensive driving, and more
- Systems of compensation put in place by truck companies to encourage speeding to different destinations to get a job done quicker
- Unrealistic schedules that put drowsy drivers behind the wheel
Trucking Regulations
There are many regulations put in place to keep truck drivers driving safely on our roads. These regulations have been implemented by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), who oversees the many rules and ensures that they are being followed by companies each and every year. Some of these rules dictate aspects like drug and alcohol testing in drivers, vehicle marking, adequate training, and hours of service. Hours of service violations happen more frequently than we would like to think, which is a rule that states how much time a truck driver is permitted to stay on the roadways before resting and taking a break. These rules exist as a way for drivers to get adequate breaks so that they don’t fall asleep behind the wheel of their vehicle. If a company forces a driver to break these policies, they could be held liable in the event of an accident.
When You Have Suffered From Injuries
It is important to be able to identify a liable party when you have been injured in a truck accident featuring one of these large vehicles. Most of these accidents lead to catastrophic injuries, which could lead to extreme amounts of medical expenses, emotional suffering, loss of income, and so much more. This is why it is very important to be able to file a claim against a negligent party, such as a driver, a trucking company, maintenance provider, or cargo loader based on the circumstances of your case. We want to help you, so give us a call today before moving forward. You want to work toward the compensation you deserve after you have been injured, and we can help.