Many traffic accidents involving a commercial truck result in at least one fatality. It is even more concerning that the number of trucking accidents grows each year. A major factor in the severity of trucking accidents is the size of a truck. If a semi truck collides with a car, injuries most certainly will be severe. Victims need to hire an experienced attorney if they are hit by a truck.
If you are involved in a semi accident in Terre Haute, IN there are many parties that may be liable. The truck driver and the owner of the truck could be responsible. Other potential liable parties include:
• whoever leased the truck and trailer from the owner
• the vehicle’s manufacturer
• the company that loaded the truck
Many trucking accidents involve loads that shift during transport, but there are other causes as well. Visit to schedule a consultation with an attorney at Mcglone Law. They have years of experience negotiating with parties in the trucking industry. Experts say the most common cause of trucking accidents is driver error. A recent study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that 88 percent of trucking accidents were caused by drivers. Driver error is blamed on drug use, speeding, and sleep deprivation. The government has laws in place regulating how long operators may drive before resting. However, many drivers and their employers disregard these regulations.
Equipment failure is the second most common cause of accidents. In an attempt to save money, owners do not inspect and service their fleets like they should. A semi accident in Terre Haute, IN, may be caused by faulty brakes and bad tires. Other contributing factors include:
• failure to attach the trailer properly
• steering failure
• failing to secure or distribute the load
• lights that do not work
Federal government passed laws that make it impossible for truck owners to avoid liability. Any company that owns a truck is responsible for incidents where a truck displayed its name or logo. The trucking industry has to take responsibility for the growing number of accidents involving big rigs. If safety is a concern, the frequency of accidents should be going down instead of increasing.
