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Most Common Factors in Semi-Truck Accidents

Dec 3, 2019 Brown Moore

There are many large commercial trucks in and around Charlotte. While most of our interactions with these large vehicles are uneventful, that is not always the case. Even though large semi-trucks keep our economy moving, they also cause devastating injuries when they crash. At Brown, Moore & Associates, PLLC, our Charlotte truck accident attorneys want to take some time to review the most common causes of semi-truck accidents.

Critical events defined by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were around 148,000 people injured and 4,761 people killed as a result of large truck crashes in the US during the latest reporting year. These incidents often lead to severe injuries for those in passenger vehicles, including:

  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Bone fractures and dislocations
  • Loss of or damage to a bodily organ
  • Dismemberment or amputation
  • Significant disfigurement

The FMCSA codes truck accidents based on varying levels of severity. They have said that the three major types of critical events assigned to large trucks during one of their studies include:

  • Running out of the travel lane, either into another lane or off the road (32 percent of the large trucks in the study sample were assigned this critical event).
  • Vehicle loss of control due to traveling too fast for conditions, cargo shift, vehicle systems failure, poor road conditions, or other reasons (29 percent).
  • Colliding with the rear end of another vehicle in the truck’s travel lane (22 percent).

It comes down to truck drivers and vehicle failure

During the study mentioned above, the FMCSA cited driver error as being responsible for 87% of large truck crashes. This includes:

The FMCSA has strict regulations in place on commercial truck drivers, including how many hours they are allowed to operate each workday and workweek.

The FMCSA also said that vehicle failure was responsible for 10% of large truck crashes. This can include the failure of:

  • Tires and wheels
  • Brakes
  • Unsecured loads or overloaded trailers
  • Powertrain failure
  • Steering system failure
  • Suspension failure

It is imperative that truck companies regularly inspect and maintain their vehicles to prevent this type of failure while a truck is in motion. A failure of companies to do so could result in them being liable in the event a crash causes damages or injuries.

Let us help you through this today

If you or a loved one have been injured in a truck accident that was caused by a negligent truck driver or truck company, you need to seek legal assistance. At Brown, Moore & Associates, PLLC, we are ready to get to work investigating your crash so we can secure the compensation you need. This can include:

  • Coverage of medical expenses
  • Recovery of lost wages if you are unable to work
  • Coverage of physical therapy
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Loss of enjoyment of life damages
  • Possible punitive damages against the negligent party

When you need a Charlotte truck accident lawyer, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 704-335-1500.