Trucking Accidents Accidents involving large trucks are among the most serious and most deadly in the U.S. Trucking companies are required to follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations concerning their equipment and their drivers' hours of service. A typical fully-loaded large commercial truck can weigh 80,000 pounds or more. While statistics show that truck drivers are much more careful on the road than automobile drivers, fatal crashes involving trucks and other large vehicles has declined in recent years, large truck crashes still accounted for 5350 fatalities and 133,000 injuries in 2001.

Alarming Statistics

Every 16 minutes of everyday, another person in the U.S. will be injured or killed in a truck accident. The majority of fatal truck accidents occur in rural areas during the daytime. About 27 percent of all large truck drivers involved in a fatal truck accident throughout the U.S had at least one prior speeding conviction compared to 19 percent of the passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes. Large trucks were much more likely to be involved in a fatal multiple-vehicle crash as opposed to a fatal single-vehicle crash.

How Can a Lawyer Help?

When a passenger vehicle is involved in an accident with an 18 wheeler or tractor trailer, the out come can be catastrophic. Many truck accidents result in property damage or personal injury. Without legal help from a personal injury lawyer, you may have no idea of the real value of your 18-wheeler accident claim. Consult an experienced personal injury 18-wheeler lawyer. Without legal help from your personal injury lawyer, you may have no idea of the real value of your 18-wheeler accident claim.