A few weeks ago on Christmas Eve, two semi-trucks got into an accident in Virginia, leaving one of the truck drivers dead. According to a report by the local ABC affiliate, one truck operated by Dunbar Trucking was merging onto the I-64 onramp when it was struck in the rear by another truck operated by the Roadway Corporation.
The accident damaged the trailer and cab operated by Dunbar Trucking, and the truck’s driver sustained minor injuries. The Roadway truck was completely destroyed and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. At the time of the report, police were still investigating the cause of the accident.
Big Trucks Have Massive Potential for Destruction
Given their great size, semi-trucks and tractor-trailers can be some of the most hazardous obstacles an everyday driver encounters. Not every truck accident is fatal, but a large number of them are. Some suggest that up to 98% of all semi-truck accidents result in at least one fatality. This number is smaller for other types of commercial trucks.
Below are some other interesting—and perhaps shocking—statistics about semi-truck accidents in the United States.
- Sixty-eight percent of all fatal truck accidents in 2008 happened outside city limits.
- About 75% of semi-truck accidents are caused by drivers of smaller cars, rather than the truck driver.
- Driver fatigue is responsible for almost a third of all semi-truck accidents.
- Driving under the influence is also one of the largest contributors to fatal and non-fatal truck accidents.
- Almost 90% of all truck accidents are caused or made worse by some kind of human error.
- In 2009, about 90,000 people were injured in some kind of truck accident. This figure has dropped from about 130,000 in the early- and mid-nineties.
- Each year there are about 2,500 fire-truck accidents each year; these accidents injure, on average, 1,100 people per year.
Trucking Companies Can Be Held Responsible for Their Driver’s Negligence
In cases where a truck driver causes an accident, the driver might not be the only party responsible for the damages and injuries caused. The trucking company as well as the insurance company can also be held responsible for damages caused by the accident in many cases. It is best to speak with an experienced attorney to discuss the specifics of personal injury damages and recoveries and who may be held responsible.
Have You Been Injured in a Semi-Truck Accident in Maryland?
If you have recently been involved in a semi-truck accident in the State of Maryland, you should immediately seek the counsel of an experienced Maryland truck accident attorney to discuss the facts of your case. By speaking with an experienced attorney you will be able to better understand what options may be available to you. The Maryland personal injury law firm of Lebowitz and Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers has the experience and dedication you need to recover on your truck accident claim. Contact the firm online, or call 410-654-3600 today to speak to an experienced attorney.
More Blog Posts:
Court Rejects Trucking Company’s Appeal Following Fatal Tractor Trailer-Pedestrian Accident, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published December 9, 2013.
Court of Appeals Denies Reversal in Fatal Multiple Truck-Vehicle Collision, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published November 28, 2013.