Commercial truck accidents cause over 133,000 serious injuries and 5,300 deaths in the United States each year. Accidents involving large commercial trucks can be devastating—their 80,000 pounds of steel can easily destroy a 3,000-pound automobile.
Truck accidents may involve more types of injuries than general car accidents. Often carrying flammable material, construction equipment, or other potential hazards, commercial truck accidents may cause burns, explosions, or other serious injuries.
Victims of serious truck accidents that wish to pursue a claim must prove that the truck driver is liable. In essence, the victim and their serious truck accident attorney must prove the driver was negligently operating the vehicle—causing your injuries. Under state and local laws, drivers are required to operate their vehicles with “reasonable care and under the circumstances—this takes into account traffic and weather conditions, other drivers, and potential road hazards. If the driver failed to observe this basic operating procedure, they can be held liable for your injuries. Your attorney must prove that:
- The commercial truck driver owed you or other accident victims a duty to operate the truck with a reasonable duty of care under the circumstances. All drivers owe a legal reasonable duty of care to other drivers or pedestrians on the road.
- The commercial truck driver failed to operate their vehicle with reasonable care.
- The commercial truck driver caused the injuries in question due to their inability to operate the vehicle with reasonable care.
Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents:
- Driving without a license or training
- Driving under unrealistic time schedules, as designed by management of the trucking or transportation company
- Inadequately securing heavy or hazardous loads in the truck bed
- Driving continuously without rest
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Avoiding required pre-trip inspections