Big Trucks Cause Big Accidents
The big truck you pass on the interstate may carry more risks than you imagine. Fatalities involving large trucks continue to rise. This is bad news for Nevadans. According to the Nevada Department of Transportation, truckers are the third largest motorist group using Nevada’s highways, after commuters and tourists. Big trucks carry big risks. Semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, freight carriers, big rigs, and tractor-trailers cause serious and fatal accidents for all involved.
Have you been in an accident involving a commercial truck? If a truck accident injures you or a family member, seek medical help immediately. Once you have received medical care, consult with an experienced truck accident attorney. Anthem Injury Lawyers have experienced truck accident attorneys who are ready to help you. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
For a free legal consultation, call (702) 857-6000
What Causes Trucking Accidents?
Heightened standards for truck drivers help prevent accidents and keep everyone safe. Despite all of these preventative measures, trucking accidents are far too common in Nevada. Common causes of trucking accidents include:
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Weather
- Following too close behind another driver
- Distracted driving
- Unsafe driving in bad weather
- Failure to properly secure a load
- Poorly maintained tires, brakes, or lights
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Associated Factors
There can be hundreds of factors associated with large truck crashes. Some of the more common factors may include:
- Brake problems
- Traffic flow interruption (congestion, previous crash)
- Traveling too fast for conditions
- Unfamiliarity with roadway
- Roadway problems
- Required to stop before crash (traffic control device, crosswalk)
- Inadequate surveillance
- Fatigue
Trucking Accident Injuries
Trucking accidents tend to cause more serious injuries due to the larger size of the vehicles involved. Commercial trucks weigh thousands of pounds and can carry dangerous cargo. In commercial vehicles and small car accidents, the people in cars are much more likely to be killed or injured.
Some of the most common serious injuries that can result from a truck accident include:
- spine or neck injuries
- traumatic brain injury
- broken bones
- lacerations
- soft tissue damage
If a Nevada trucking crash has injured you or a loved one, seek counsel from an experienced law firm such as Anthem Injury Lawyers. Our office is in Henderson, but we work with clients all over the Las Vegas Valley. This includes North Las Vegas, Summerlin, Spring Valley, Anthem, and the Strip. Contact us today for a free consultation at (702) 857-6000.
As vehicle accident experts, we’ve helped numerous accident victims win their cases. We offer you a much better opportunity to maximize your compensation versus trying to handle the situation yourself. Don’t go it alone – let our Las Vegas truck accident attorneys help you win your case. Call Anthem Injury Lawyers now for a free case evaluation: (702) 857-6000.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
How to Avoid Trucking Accidents
Car drivers cause most crashes between large commercial trucks and smaller cars. The Nevada Driver Handbook (Handbook) has a section dedicated to commercial vehicle safety. According to the Handbook, over 200,000 crashes occur between cars and commercial vehicles each year. Avoid a crash by keeping these points in mind.
Large commercial vehicles:
- Cannot maneuver like a car or other smaller vehicles.
- Have much larger blind spots than smaller vehicles.
- Take more time and space to slow down or stop.
Take more time and space to slow down or stop.
What is a No-Zone?
According to the Handbook, the “No-Zone” is the area around large commercial trucks where cars “disappear” into blind spots. The possibility of a collision greatly increases if truck drivers cannot see you. The right-side blind spot is doubly dangerous because trucks and buses make wide right turns!
Handbook No-Zones
- Side No-Zones – Do not “hang out” on either side of trucks. Trucks have big No-Zones (blind spots) on both sides. They are much larger than your car’s blind spots. If you cannot see the driver’s face in the side-view mirror, he or she cannot see you. If that driver needs to swerve or change lanes for any reason, the chances of a collision greatly increase.
- Front No-Zones – Pass safely! Large vehicles need nearly twice the time and distance to stop as cars. When passing, look for the whole front of the commercial truck in your rearview mirror before pulling into the truck’s lane. One in front of the truck, do not slow down.
- Rear No-Zones – Avoid tailgating! If the truck or bus driver brakes or stops suddenly, you have no place to go and could end up running into them. Never pass behind a commercial truck that is backing up!
- Wide Right Turns – Avoid the “squeeze play”! Large commercial trucks may need to:
- swing wide to the left in order to safely make a right turn, or
- swing wide to the right to safely make a left turn.
- They cannot see cars directly behind or beside them. Do not “squeeze” between a commercial vehicle and the curb.
If you are injured in a trucking crash because of the conduct of someone else, seek legal advice from an experienced truck accident lawyer. The experienced team at Anthem Injury Lawyers can help you protect your rights and help you get the personal injury settlement that you deserve.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Truck Accident Statistics
Over the last several years the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported an increase in large-truck occupant fatalities. This increase is even more alarming as the number of overall roadways fatalities has decreased.
Crash Report Sampling System
The NHTSA has collected crash data since the early 1970s. Its mission is to reduce motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and deaths on our Nation’s highways. The Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS) is a sample of police-reported crashes involving all types of motor vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. Crashes range from property-damage-only crashes to those that result in fatalities.
Fatality Analysis Reporting System
Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) is a nationwide census providing NHTSA, Congress and the American public yearly data. The data is regarding fatal injuries suffered in motor vehicle traffic crashes.
National Safety Council’s 2018 Analysis
In 2018 the National Safety Council analyzed the NHTSA’s CRSS and FARS data files. According to the National Safety Council’s 2018 Analysis:
- In 2018, 4,862 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash. This is a one percent increase from 2017 and a 51 percent increase since 2009.
- Large trucks are defined as any medium or heavy truck with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds. Both commercial and non-commercial vehicles are included. Buses and motorhomes are not included.
Large trucks accounted for:
- Nine percent of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes.
- Four percent of all registered vehicles.
- Nine percent of total vehicle miles traveled.
Please note that although the number of trucks involved in injury crashes is trending up since 2009, the exact percent increase is not certain. Starting with the 2016 data year, the NHTSA began using a new CRSS to estimate the number of nonfatal crashes. CRSS uses a different sampling design than previous estimates and is not directly comparable to earlier data years.
Also in 2018:
- 112,000 large trucks were involved in crashes resulting in an injury, a five percent increase from 2017.
- A total of 4,951 people died in large-truck crashes in 2018.
- The number of deaths has increased 46 percent since 2009 (3,380 deaths).
- The majority of deaths in large-truck crashes are occupants of other vehicles (71 percent). This is followed by truck occupants (18 percent) and non-occupants, primarily pedestrians and bicyclists (11 percent).
- The number of injuries in large-truck crashes increased one percent in 2018 (to 150,000). As with deaths in large-truck crashes, most of the injuries occurred to occupants of other vehicles (72 percent). This is followed by truck occupants (26 percent) and non-occupants (2 percent).
- More than half of fatal large-truck crashes occurred on rural roads and slightly more than a quarter on interstates. Sixty-four percent of the crashes happened during daylight hours, and five percent happened in construction zones.
More than half of fatal large-truck crashes occurred on rural roads and slightly more than a quarter on interstates. Sixty-four percent of the crashes happened during daylight hours, and five percent happened in construction zones.
Crash Fraud
Truck crashes are scary for all involved. However, an even scarier trend has emerged: crash fraud. In a public service announcement by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), NICB encouraged all drivers to be wary of staged automobile accidents. This video was in an effort to combat fraud and to avoid being victimized by a staged accident.
Unfortunately, one type of staged automobile accident involves large trucks. In October 2019, one news outlet reported that five people in the New Orleans area were federally indicted. The outlet reported they were indicted on six counts of fraud for staging a phony crash with a truck. It is alleged that the individuals staged accidents with tractor-trailers in order to file insurance claims and lawsuits for financial gain.
Experienced Trucking Accident Attorneys
Anthem Injury Lawyers offers you the best chance to receive the compensation due you as a victim in a truck accident. Your personal injury attorney at our firm will have to deal with special trucking laws, commercial trucking company policies, and special insurance coverage rules. These are all well-known to your Anthem Injury Lawyers attorney, who offers years of experience representing vehicle accident victims.
It is important to work with truck accident lawyers who can properly manage all of the issues involved in a complex truck accident case; we encourage you to get in touch with us today.
Anthem Injury Lawyers have experienced truck accident attorneys who are ready to help you. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
Call or text (702) 857-6000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
