Driving big rig trucks is riskier in more ways than you might have imagined. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, truck drivers have one the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations because of their potential for traffic related accidents. In 2014 alone, 3,903 people were killed and an estimated 111,000 people were injured in crashes involving large tractor-trailer trucks.
Most heavy tractor-trailer drivers work full time, driving and unloading materials for 14 hours straight at times. This type of overexertion can lead to a series of deadly highway crashes. Other factors that play a part in truck related crashes are trucks braking capability, size and weight, and driver distraction.
Hundreds of deaths and injuries are blamed on commercial truck drivers who have blacked out, collapsed or suffered a major health problem behind the wheel of a vehicle. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is responsible for cracking down on truck drivers who are unfit to drive. The problems threatening highway travelers continues to increase in spite of the government placing warnings and regulations.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) large trucks were more likely to be involved in fatal multi-vehicle crashes in comparison to fatal single-vehicle crashes. The number of people who died in large tractor-trailer truck crashes was 16% higher in 2014 than in 2009.
Injuries suffered as a result of a truck related accidents can include:
- Whiplash
- Burns and abrasions to the head or neck
- Nerve damage
- Spinal cord paralysis
- Broken bones or dislocated limbs
- Fatality
Victims of truck accidents are at extremely higher risks for catastrophic injury because of the sheer size and weight of big rigs. Truck drivers who choose to drive their tractor-trailer trucks while tired or sick can add to this danger. If you or a loved one has been injured in a collision with a big rig, we can help. Email us today using our case submission form or call us at (800) 333-0000 for a free consultation. We’ll fight for you!®
