Truck accidents lead to devastating injuries and death. The size of large vehicles makes them more likely to cause serious damage when they become involved in a collision.

 

The following statistics highlight the prevalence of truck accidents. Understanding their risks and the legal options you have available if you’ve been injured can help you protect you and your family.

 

What the Data Shows About Truck Accidents 

 

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) highlight the prevalence of truck accident injuries.

Large trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds are 20–55% more likely to be involved in a car collision that results in death when compared with accidents involving standard-sized vehicles.

 

The majority of these accidents occur during the workweek, and about 60% occur on roads in rural areas.

 

Approximately 803,000 injuries resulted from truck accidents in 2015 alone. Light trucks, which include vans and SUVs, accounted for almost 9,900 fatalities. Accidents involving trucks weighing more than ten tons resulted in 30,000 injuries and 667 deaths in 2015.

The Risk of Injury Involved in Truck Accidents

Smaller cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles are at risk when traveling alongside large trucks. Large trucks can take up more than one lane. In some cases, faulty brakes and other mechanical issues can put truck drivers and those around them at risk.

Being alert and driving defensively are two steps you can take to protect yourself, your loved ones, and others. Large trucks require more space to make turns. Truck drivers may not always see smaller vehicles around them.

A personal injury attorney with experience in truck accidents can provide you with the representation you need if you’ve been injured in an accident. An attorney can help you get compensated for your injuries and other damages.

How Truck Accident Attorneys Help Victims

After being involved in a truck accident, you need to gather evidence that proves the negligence or recklessness of a truck driver. An attorney can investigate the circumstances related to your case while gathering eyewitness testimony, photographs and videos, police reports, and other evidence.

Your attorney can revisit the scene of the accident and determine what other factors may have contributed to the accident. They can determine if the truck’s driver acted appropriately given the location and traffic conditions.

Other factors that can contribute to truck accidents include poor maintenance or repairs of commercial vehicles. Incorrectly loaded cargo, lack of sufficient driver training, and tight driving schedules can also play a role in accidents.

Your attorney can access a truck’s maintenance schedules and logs. They can investigate the driver’s history, distance traveled, and driving hours.

In addition to the truck’s driver, their employer and other parties may also be held liable for your injuries. An attorney can evaluate your case and help you get the compensation you deserve.

 

Compensation awarded in a court of law helps you cover current and future medical expenses. You can receive compensation for pain and suffering, the loss of income, and the loss of the capacity to earn future income.

With the right legal representation by your side, you can hold negligent truck drivers accountable for your injuries while protecting the wellbeing of other drivers on Georgia’s roads.