Hartford Truck Accident Lawyer
Accidents involving large vehicles, such as commercial trucks, tractor trailers and log carriers, have higher fatality rates compared to accidents involving standard cars and pickup trucks. The sheer size and weight of these larger vehicles make them more likely to cause injuries to occupants in passenger vehicles when the two are involved in a collision.
If you or a loved one is injured in a collision involving a large truck, it is critically important that you contact an experienced truck accident lawyer immediately. The commercial trucking company and its insurance companies will begin investigating immediately with the primary goal of limiting their liability. In Connecticut, Hartford truck accident lawyer Andrew Cates will review your case for free and will represent you on a contingent fee basis so he only gets paid if and when you do. Call now for your free claim evaluation.
Truck Accident Statistics
- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that in 2014 eleven percent of all traffic fatalities were the result of crashes involving large trucks.
- The IHS also reports that in 2014 occupants of passenger vehicles represented ninety-seven percent of fatalities in two-vehicle crashes involving a passenger vehicle and a large truck. In other words, the standard sized vehicles’ passengers suffered the most.
- In 2014 seventy-two percent of large truck deaths resulted from crashes involving tractor trailers.
- In 2014 there were 20 fatal accidents involving large trucks in Connecticut.
Causes of Large Truck Accidents
Below are some of the most common causes of large truck accidents:
- Weight and load violations – According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety large trucks often weigh up to 30 times as much as standard vehicles, which can lead to devastating consequences for a standard sized vehicle that is involved in an accident with a large truck. To ensure that drivers of large trucks can safely steer and guide their vehicles, strict rules and guidelines have been set by federal and state governments. These rules determine the maximum amount of weight that a truck can carry before it becomes a safety risk.
Trucks that have been loaded improperly and go over that maximum weight limit can cause problems that impede on the driver’s ability to safely operate the vehicle. For example, in some instances, larger trucks need 40% more space than a standard vehicle to come to a complete stop. Added weight only increases a truck’s stopping distance.
- Defective roadways – Drivers of large vehicles have to drive through all types of bad weather and on sometimes dangerous roadways to get to their destinations. Driving on treacherous roads is dangerous even for drivers of smaller vehicles, but given the fact that larger vehicles are harder to maneuver, bad roads make it extremely difficult for truck operators to drive safely at all times.
- Driver fatigue – Truck drivers have strict limitations regarding the number of hours they can drive without resting. However, some drivers are paid per delivery and disregard these regulations in order to make more trips. When a driver does not obey the rules and get proper rest, he may become fatigued, putting other drivers and pedestrians at risk.
- Defective equipment – Continual maintenance is needed to make sure any vehicle performs at peak efficiency. In the case of large vehicles it is even more important that they be maintained, as they are frequently used to travel long distances and are harder to steer. A properly maintained vehicle could mean the difference between a near accident and a major one.
If you or a family member has been involved in an accident involving a large truck in Connecticut, you have a legal right to compensation for your injuries. Call our Hartford truck accident attorneys today at (800) 330-4988 or (860) 522-7044, or contact us online for a free case evaluation and phone consultation. Time is of the essence so call now.