Semi-truck accidents are some of the more gruesome types of collisions on the roadways - for obvious reasons. In any type of run-in between a 40 ton vehicle and a 5 or 6 ton car or light truck there can be no doubt that the injuries and damages will be catastrophic for the smaller motor vehicle and its driver and passengers.
While we have discussed some of the more germane statistics related to semi-truck accidents - they bear repeating on a regular basis - if only to serve as a reminder to all drivers on the road to drive defensively.
*One in eight - or 12% of - highway fatalities are the result of a collision with a semi-truck.
*The more populous states can experience rates of semi-truck accidents that are 3 or 4x higher than their less populated counterparts. For instance, the number of semi-truck deaths is clearly 3 times greater in Indiana and Michigan than New Mexico.
*Regulation is imperative. The bottom line in the trucking industry is the bottom line. Many companies and even independent drivers have been found to make choices that adversely affect other drivers on the road in order to improve their own profitability.
*Some of the more common driving errors on the part of semi-truck drivers include distracted driving, drowsy driving, speeding and driving in unsafe weather conditions.
If you see a semi-truck driver taking chances on public roadways - contact the local highway patrol or police agency. As cliché as it may sound - the life you save may be your own.
Greg Baumgartner is a Houston 18 wheeler accident attorney and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping personal injury victims seek civil justice. If you would like to speak with a Houston 18 wheeler accident lawyer call the Baumgartner firm.
