Truck Accidents
US, Canada and Puerto Rico
Large trucks are necessary to transport goods from coast to coast and from one country to another. Sadly, many of these massive 18-wheelers are involved in accidents. If you or someone you love has been involved in an accident with a large truck, please contact the truck accident attorneys at Balkin & Eisbrouch, LLC today.
The Weight Issue
Because of their tremendous size, 18-wheelers create a great deal of speed as they travel on interstates and major highways. Their massive weight makes large trucks unable to stop quickly or make sharp maneuvers. When involved in a collision, a large truck often causes severe injuries to those in passenger vehicles.
Cars and SUVs are more designed to withstand crashes with similar-sized vehicles, not trucks that may be 20 times their size. Therefore, you are more likely to sustain:
- Brain injuries
- Paralysis
- Paraplegia and quadriplegia
- Neck and spinal cord injures
- Amputations
- Wrongful death
Reasons for Truck Accidents
There are a number of factors that can cause a truck accident, from an oil spill to lack of signage around a hairpin turn; here are some of the more common reasons for truck accidents:
- Driver fatigue: Driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of truck accidents. Trucker fatigue can cause a number of unsafe driving issues such as lane drifting, double vision, failing to stop and running off the road.
- Improper truck maintenance: It is a truck driver’s responsibility to inspect their trucks before they embark on a delivery, and while they are on the road. A trucker must check things like tires, brakes, emergency equipment, steering mechanism and lights. Failure to make these checks can result in a catastrophic accident.
- Unrealistic schedules: The trucking industry is very competitive, and trucking companies know they can set unrealistic delivery times because someone will accept it. Sometimes, refusing a schedule will cost truckers their jobs. However, unrealistic schedules are very dangerous and can result in a crash due to driving at excessive speeds, driving while too fatigued or under the influence of stimulants (whether legal or illegal).
- Overloading cargo: Trucks that have too much cargo require longer stopping distances than normal or cause brake failure to a rollover accident. Overloaded trucks can also cause accidents in more subtle ways, such as causing a tire to blow out.
Truck accidents often have devastating outcomes. If you or a family member has been involved in a truck accident, please contact the truck accident attorneys at Balkin & Eisbrouch, LLC today. We serve clients nationwide, along with Canada and Puerto Rico. If you have been injured, we can help you collect the money you deserve.
