The trucking industry is a vital part of the American economy. In a world where the economy is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, truckers are responsible for transporting goods and products to regions all over the country.
In the digital age where consumers expect everything right away, trucking companies stay on a tight schedule to maximize profits and continuously improve processes.
Unfortunately, this can lead to high turnover, inexperienced drivers, long hours on the road, drowsy driving, and mechanical failures that lead to deadly truck accidents.
When clients come to Epperly Follis with their accident cases, we analyze a number of facts to determine who is liable for the crash. We have been able to win substantial awards for many clients who have been in an accident with a truck driver.
If you have been in an accident with an 18-wheeler, here are a number of statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
- Trucks can be on the road up to 11 hours per day.
- For the most recent recorded year of statistics, there were 499,000 accidents with large trucks involved. There were 107,000 injuries within those accidents.
- In 2019, 4,119 people passed away in an accident involving an 18-wheeler. This is down from 1979, when 6,539 fatalities were reported.
- When an 18-wheeler is fully loaded, the stopping distance may increase by 30%.
- In 2018, there were 88 fatal crashes in the state of Virginia.
- In 2019, 11% of fatal accidents involved a semi-truck.
Factors Leading to Truck Accidents
In the trucking industry, deadlines are a huge part of the job. When you are on the road, you cannot make long rest stops to enjoy the scenery. When you are driving 11 hours a day, you have just enough time to work, eat, shower, and rest. It is tempting to drive a little fast to beat a deadline, but this can lead to devastating consequences.
Turnover has always been rampant in the trucking industry. Depending on the metrics evaluated, it can be anywhere from 70% to 100% per year. This leads to inexperienced drivers which leads to more accidents.
Dangerous weather conditions won’t stop most trucking companies unless roads become impassible. Drivers face pressure from consumers and their superiors to receive their supplies as soon as possible, so it takes more than a small snow shower for truckers to suspend travel.
It has been said drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Many truck accidents happen when the driver falls asleep at the wheel. Truck companies have been known to push the laws and boundaries for travel time limits to try to meet deadlines and increase profits.
Contact a Truck Accident Attorney
The truck accident attorneys at Epperly Follis, P.C. have experience representing clients in accidents with 18-wheelers. If you have been in an accident with a truck driver, you may be able to recover damages from the other insurance company if the truck driver was at fault. Dealing with insurance companies that represent commercial trucking companies can be a lot more complicated than the average client, so it makes sense to get a lawyer involved in your case. Contact them at 804-648-6480 to schedule a consultation today.