In 2016 alone, there were approximately 475,000 police-reported crashes involving heavy trucks and over 100,000 of those resulted in significant injuries or fatalities. Worse still, 98% of the individuals killed in collisions involving heavy trucks are occupants of passenger vehicles.
There are approximately 15 million heavy trucks crowding roads and highways that everyday people rely on to get where they need to go, including getting to and from work and getting their kids to and from school. One overworked driver who falls asleep at the wheel or fails to check his mirrors can change your life in an instant. Heavy trucks often weigh 20-30 times more than a typical car rendering the consequences of a truck driver or their company’s bad actions all the more devastating.
If you or someone you love is involved in an accident involving a heavy truck, it is imperative that you consult with and retain the services of an experienced attorney. Retaining an experienced attorney as soon as possible will ensure that your rights are protected while investigations into the cause of the crash occur.
Every trucking accident is unique, but many stem from the same root causes. The most common causes of trucking accidents are driver error, company mismanagement, truck equipment failure and improper maintenance.
Truck Driver Error/ Company Mismanagement
Truck driver error and company mismanagement regularly coincide. Drivers are often encouraged by company mileage goals to drive recklessly in an effort to meet expectations. As a result drivers regularly drive beyond their mandated hours restrictions, skip mandated breaks, drive drowsy or drive while distracted. The consequences of this kind of behavior are often catastrophic.
Equipment Failure/Improper Maintenance
As you can imagine, equipment failure on an 80,000 pound vehicle operating at highway speeds leads to massive consequences. These failures can result from the actions of the trucking company that owns the truck or the truck manufacturer. The experienced attorneys at McCartney Stucky can identify who the liable party is and determine whether to proceed against the trucking company or the truck manufacturer in a defective heavy truck action (link to defective heavy truck practice area page), or both.
Heavy Truck Accident Attorneys
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash with a heavy truck, the importance of hiring an experienced attorney cannot be overstated. McCartney Stucky attorneys are here to help you. Our attorneys are highly experienced and possess a detailed understanding of the major issues in most trucking accidents, issues including: accident reconstruction, evidence preservation, federal motor carrier safety regulations and the complexities that come with multiple insurance layers and policies. Furthermore, McCartney Stucky attorneys work with a proven network of expert witnesses who will provide invaluable guidance throughout the litigation of your claims.
At McCartney Stucky, we strive to bring justice to all of our clients harmed by the wrongful and negligent acts of others. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident involving a heavy truck, please contact our office as soon as possible for a free consultation. We will work hand in hand with you to obtain the compensation that you deserve.