The Causes And Consequences of 18-Wheeler Accidents In Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Accidents involving 18-wheelers are not uncommon. You have probably seen one while traveling on a state or interstate highway in Louisiana. Yet, in some ways, these trucks are the lifeblood of our economy, delivering much-needed goods and supplies to people in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and throughout the United States of America.
To help the community avoid these accidents and respond to them in the best way possible when they occur, the 18-wheeler accident lawyers at The Law Office of Don R. Williams, LLC have put this article together to do just that, dedicated to empowering the community with valuable insights and guidance to that end. In it, we discuss the causes and consequences of 18-wheeler accidents.
Causes Of 18-Wheeler Accidents
In 2018, truck driving was identified as the most deadly occupation in the United States, with 28.3 fatal injuries per 100,000 full-time workers. There are several different causes of 18-wheeler accidents. Common ones include:
Mechanical Failure
Cited by some as the top cause of truck accidents, this often includes issues pertaining to tires, wheels, and brakes. When paired with the fact that some trucks need as much as two football fields of runway to stop entirely, this spells disaster, especially in situations where mechanical failure is a minor disruption away as it is.
Driver Fatigue
According to The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, about 130,000 individuals are injured, and about 4,000 are killed in accidents involving large trucks in the U.S. every year. This staggering number is, to some degree, likely a result of the fact that many truck drivers have 70-hour, 8-day work weeks.
It is interesting to note that, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 37% of all crashes that end in death, 23% that end in injuries, and 20% of all crashes that end in damage to property occur at night – between 6 PM and 6 AM.
Failure To Comply With Regulations
A concerning trend shown by research by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals that semi-truck operators and trucking companies sometimes neglect safety regulations aimed at reducing hazardous journeys in the pursuit of cutting cost and making deliveries on time.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in 2016, during roadside inspections by federal and state inspectors, it was discovered that nearly 20% of commercial vehicles had a significant number of violations that warranted pulling the drivers or vehicles out of service.
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Consequences Of 18-Wheeler Accidents
There are also several consequences of 18-wheeler accidents that range across many different areas of life.
Emotional Trauma
Any potentially life-altering incident is traumatic to any involved. Some victims of 18-wheeler accidents have been known to suffer forms of PTSD.
Injury
Broken bones, injury to the head, and spinal cord injuries are among the spectrum of injuries people involved in 18-wheeler accidents suffer. Given the size of the vehicles involved, the truck driver generally is not injured as much as those in passenger vehicles when a collision occurs between these two types of vehicles.
Death
In worst-case scenarios, people die in accidents involving trucks.
Financial Loss
Medical bills and property damage are common financial consequences of accidents with trucks. The trucking company may be liable for these overwhelming costs depending on the circumstances. An 18-wheeler accident lawyer can be invaluable in helping you recover these losses and be made whole insofar as possible.
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Consequences Of 18-Wheeler Accidents
The key to avoiding an accident with an 18-wheeler is prevention. When this fails, we are forced to rely on the legal system so victims can be made whole.
If you are the victim of a trucking accident in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contact The Law Office of Don R. Williams, LLC today. We will help you gather evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue the legal action necessary to make you whole.