Commercial trucks are very large and heavy-duty vehicles that can cause significant damages during an accident. Unfortunately, these trucks are involved in thousands of collisions per year, often resulting in serious injuries and devastating fatalities.
There are certain types of accidents that large trucks are involved in more often than others. If you are injured by a commercial motor vehicle, you may be eligible for financial compensation—as long as you can prove that someone else caused the collision.
National Truck Accident Statistics
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compiles statistics on collisions involving large trucks and buses each year. According to its 2019 report, approximately 510,000 police reports about collisions involving large trucks were made across the United States.
Of these collisions, approximately 114,000 collisions involving large trucks resulted in an injury and 4,479 of these accidents resulted in a fatality. About 62% of fatal large truck collisions involved two vehicles, and approximately 57% of these accidents occurred in rural areas.
The first harmful event, or the first event during an accident that resulted in an injury, is an important detail in large truck collisions. The FMCSA provides the following data on first harmful events for 2019 accidents.
Collision with a vehicle in transport was the first harmful event for 73% of fatal collisions and 83.6% of injury crashes.
Collision with a fixed object was the first harmful event in 9.4% of fatal crashes and 7.1% of injury accidents.
Collision with a pedestrian contributed to 8.8% of fatal crashes and 1.3% of injury crashes.
Overturn accidents occurred in 3.7% of fatal accidents and 3.7% of injury collisions.
Common Causes of Large Truck Accidents
Accidents involving large trucks can happen for a wide range of reasons. In many cases, poor maintenance, overloaded trailers, and other forms of company negligence lead to these collisions. Defective vehicles, malfunctioning parts, and even poor weather conditions may also cause a commercial vehicle accident.
However, many truck accidents occur due to the negligence of the driver. All commercial truck drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely and follow all Georgia traffic laws and applicable regulations, including FMCSA rules. If a driver breaches this duty and causes an accident, he or she may be liable for your injuries.
Examples of truck driver negligence include the following.
Driving more hours than allowed
Making an unsafe lane change
Drowsy or fatigued driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Driving recklessly or aggressively
Making sharp and sudden turns
Tailgating other vehicles
Driving over the speed limit
Distracted driving
Your Options After a Truck Accident in Georgia
If you are injured in a commercial truck accident in Georgia, you may wonder what to do next. These collisions can result in devastating consequences, leading to financial hardship and a loss of quality of life. In these situations, however, you may be eligible for an insurance claim or lawsuit against the truck driver, his or her employer, or even the manufacturer of a defective vehicle.
To prove your right to compensation in a claim, you will need to show that someone else caused your accident. In these situations, hiring a personal injury attorney can help. Your lawyer can conduct a full investigation into your collision and gather the evidence you need to establish the at-fault party’s liability.
After your accident, seek emergency medical attention and save all records related to your accident. Once you receive care, contact a truck accident lawyer in Augusta to strategize your next steps.
