Truck Accidents
Large commercial trucks play a crucial role in the economy of the United States, shipping products across the nation every day to keep businesses running and consumers satisfied. However, the presence of large trucks on the road increases the chances of catastrophic accidents, resulting in injuries which are often far worse than an average passenger vehicle accident. The Providence RI personal injury attorneys at Marasco & Nesselbush work throughout Rhode Island to represent those injured and the families of those killed in truck accidents.
Understanding Truck Crash Statistics
While government restrictions and safety enforcement has led to a reduction in the number of annual truck accidents, there are still thousands killed and injured every year by tractor trailer crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 3,390 fatalities and 74,000 injuries caused by truck crashes in the year 2009. There were approximately 296,000 vehicles designated as large trucks involved in accidents that same year. However, 76 percent of those injured in these accidents were in vehicles other than trucks.
Truck Driver Negligence
Recent studies have found that there are certain types of unsafe truck driver behaviors that commonly result in accidents. While many of these behaviors are similar in nature to causes of all vehicle accidents, truck accidents can result in much more devastating injuries. Some of these dangerous behaviors found by the American Transportation Research Institute include:
- Improper use of or failure to use turn signal;
- Speeding;
- Distracted driving caused by handheld cell phone use and/or texting;
- Driver fatigue;
- Not obeying traffic signals; and
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Types of Semi Truck Accidents
While truck accidents include common collisions such as rear-end accidents, and head-on crashes, these occurrences are made much more severe by the weight and size of trucks. When a truck crashes into an average passenger car, the truck can devastate the smaller vehicle, even at relatively low speeds. Trucks can also cause accidents unique to the vehicle, such as:
- Jackknifing;
- Runaway trailers; and
- Hazardous material spills.
These accidents can result in widespread chaos and damage to the surrounding area and multiple vehicles.
Truck Driver Legal Regulations
In order to combat the dangers of negligent truck driving, federal and state governments across the nation have created safety regulations on the operation of these vehicles. While drivers of vehicles designated as commercial motor vehicles are subject to the same rules as all other drivers, there are also rules that apply only to truck drivers, such as Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. These rules dictate the amount of time a truck driver can spend behind the wheel in order to eliminate unsafe driving practices and fatigue. These rules, regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), include:
- 11-Hour Driving Limit – Truck drivers cannot drive for more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- 14-Hour Limit – Drivers cannot drive beyond 14 hours of consecutive on-duty time.
- 60/70-Hour On-Duty Limit – Drivers cannot operate their trucks after driving for 60 or 70 hours over 7 or 8 consecutive work days, and they must take a minimum 34 hour break before restarting their work week.
These rules are set in place to prevent unsafe driving habits; however, many drivers break such rules and are sometimes encouraged to do so by their employers for faster delivery and bonus incentives.
Legal Representation You Can Depend On
As Rhode Island traffic accident lawyers, the team of attorneys at Marasco & Nesselbush frequently see the heavy toll of injuries and death resulting from negligent and reckless truck driving. Those adversely affected deserve fair and full compensation. Marasco & Nesselbush has years of experience fighting for accident injury victims. Committed to social and economic justice, we achieve extraordinary legal results, obtain full and fair compensation for our clients and hold responsible parties and their insurance companies accountable. Contact our offices and request a free case evaluation today by calling (401) 274-7400, or by completing the web contact form on this page.
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Truck Accident Attorneys RI
Truck Accidents
Large commercial trucks play a crucial role in the economy of the United States, shipping products across the nation every day to keep businesses running and consumers satisfied. However, the presence of large trucks on the road increases the chances of catastrophic accidents, resulting in injuries which are often far worse than an average passenger vehicle accident. The Providence RI personal injury attorneys at Marasco & Nesselbush work throughout Rhode Island to represent those injured and the families of those killed in truck accidents.
Understanding Truck Crash Statistics
While government restrictions and safety enforcement has led to a reduction in the number of annual truck accidents, there are still thousands killed and injured every year by tractor trailer crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 3,390 fatalities and 74,000 injuries caused by truck crashes in the year 2009. There were approximately 296,000 vehicles designated as large trucks involved in accidents that same year. However, 76 percent of those injured in these accidents were in vehicles other than trucks.
Truck Driver Negligence
Recent studies have found that there are certain types of unsafe truck driver behaviors that commonly result in accidents. While many of these behaviors are similar in nature to causes of all vehicle accidents, truck accidents can result in much more devastating injuries. Some of these dangerous behaviors found by the American Transportation Research Institute include:
Types of Semi Truck Accidents
While truck accidents include common collisions such as rear-end accidents, and head-on crashes, these occurrences are made much more severe by the weight and size of trucks. When a truck crashes into an average passenger car, the truck can devastate the smaller vehicle, even at relatively low speeds. Trucks can also cause accidents unique to the vehicle, such as:
These accidents can result in widespread chaos and damage to the surrounding area and multiple vehicles.
Truck Driver Legal Regulations
In order to combat the dangers of negligent truck driving, federal and state governments across the nation have created safety regulations on the operation of these vehicles. While drivers of vehicles designated as commercial motor vehicles are subject to the same rules as all other drivers, there are also rules that apply only to truck drivers, such as Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. These rules dictate the amount of time a truck driver can spend behind the wheel in order to eliminate unsafe driving practices and fatigue. These rules, regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), include:
These rules are set in place to prevent unsafe driving habits; however, many drivers break such rules and are sometimes encouraged to do so by their employers for faster delivery and bonus incentives.
Legal Representation You Can Depend On
As Rhode Island traffic accident lawyers, the team of attorneys at Marasco & Nesselbush frequently see the heavy toll of injuries and death resulting from negligent and reckless truck driving. Those adversely affected deserve fair and full compensation. Marasco & Nesselbush has years of experience fighting for accident injury victims. Committed to social and economic justice, we achieve extraordinary legal results, obtain full and fair compensation for our clients and hold responsible parties and their insurance companies accountable. Contact our offices and request a free case evaluation today by calling (401) 274-7400, or by completing the web contact form on this page.
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