If you haven’t been involved in an accident involving a truck, even if it was only being delayed by a monstrous traffic jam, they you have at least seen video of these accidents on TV. If a truck jack-knifes across the highway, it can be the cause of multiple accidents as cars are unable to stop in time. Hopefully, those are mostly car/car accidents. While those are bad enough, accidents that involve a truck hitting a car are always serious – and quite possibly fatal – for the occupants of the car.
Every year, there are about 5,000 fatal accidents involving a truck. That’s easy to understand when one considers that the average car weighs about 4,000 pounds while a truck weighs 10,000 to 80,000 pounds. One out of every eight people killed in a traffic accident was in an accident involving a truck.
No one, not even an Accident Attorney in Minneapolis MN, is suggesting that trucks should be eliminated. Our economy depends on all of the goods carried by trucks. It’s a $610 billion dollar industry. However, trucks always have the advantages conferred by gross vehicle weight. Cars always lose. Every Accident Attorney in Minneapolis MN has talked to the families of victims of truck accidents.
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is responsible for far too many of these accidents, especially when there is a fatality. Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs are one of the primary causes of serious injuries and deaths in truck/car accidents. Truck drivers are considered legally drunk at a lower blood alcohol content level than other drivers, but this doesn’t appear to be reversing the trend. However, it cannot be ignored that the drivers of cars sometimes cause or contribute to accidents, performing actions such as cutting off the truck or driving where the truck driver cannot see them.
Mechanical problems, such as brake or tire failures, can also contribute to or be responsible for an accident. Poor maintenance can also be an important factor. When truckers are pressed to too-tight schedules, that can lead to multiple problems.
The firm of Carlson & Jones has over 65 years of combined experience with vehicle accidents. Each Accident Attorney in Minneapolis MN is committed to attaining the best possible outcome for their client. If you’ve been involved in a traffic accident, contact an Accident Attorney in Minneapolis MN for a free initial consultation.
