Trucking Accidents

Large trucks, "18 wheelers," or big rigs can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, as compared to a typical passenger car that weighs only about 5,000 pounds.  When a large truck or tractor-trailer collides with a passenger vehicle, the sheer weight and force of the truck is enough to cause highly devastating injuries and even deaths. 

Truck Accident Statistics

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's statistics,  in 2005 in the United States there were 4,533 fatal crashes involving large trucks, defined as a truck with a gross weight of greater than 10,000 pounds.  Additionally, there were 78,000 crashes involving large trucks, resulting in 114,000 injuries.  In Oklahoma alone, there were 111 large trucks involved in fatal crashes in 2005 and 82 multiple-vehicle fatal crashes involving large trucks that same year.

Common Causes

Truck or commercial vehicle crashes can occur unexpectedly and result from a combination of factors and causes.  These factors can range from drivers who are fatigued or inattentive to drivers who are driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol (DUI).  Additional causes include:

• Drivers who are tired or exhausted
• Drivers who are inexperienced or received inadequate training
• Drivers who are DUI or driving while intoxicated (DWI)
• Drivers who drive aggressively, recklessly, or too fast
• Trucks that are overloaded or oversized
• Poorly maintained trucks, including brakes and tires
• Inadequate or missing safety mechanisms, including reflectors, lights, and mirrors

Trucking Accident Laws

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (Title 49, Parts 350-399) set forth a variety of rules for commercial truck drivers and their employers who are engaged in interstate commerce.  These include grounds for disqualification of commercial drivers, penalties for violations, employer requirements, vehicle inspection and repair requirements, and a host of other regulations. 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations also requires drivers and their employers to retain logbooks, fuel receipts, trip documentation, and vehicle maintenance records.  These records can prove particularly critical in the wake of a crash, when an injured party needs to establish who was responsible for causing the accident.  The driver and employer are only required to retain these documents for a short time following an accident and the documents need to be requested timely to preserve the evidence.

At Monty L. Cain, P.C., we have considerable experience representing injured victims and their family members in trucking accidents.  We understand both the legal and regulatory issues at play in trucking accidents, and have obtained optimal results for clients in numerous related personal injury cases.  For an experienced and knowledgeable trucking accident lawyer, contact Monty L. Cain, P.C. for a free initial consultation.