Take a look at these three commonly asked questions and the surprising answers.
How many truck accidents occur every year?
The United States Department of Transportation estimates that over 500,000 truck accidents occur every year.
Which states have the highest number of truck accidents?
The highest number of truck accidents occur in California, Texas, Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
What speed can an injury occur?
A motor vehicle accident of as little speed as 5 MPH can produce a whiplash-type injury. Because of a tractor-trailer’s size and weight, people can be seriously hurt from a truck crash.
That’s a lot of truck accidents every year and a high amount of damage and injury that can be inflicted with each accident. With truck driver accidents, many are caused by merely the driver error. Driver error, influenced by one or more of the following, is the cause of most traffic violations leading to motor vehicle accidents and especially trucking accidents.
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Distractions
- Inattention
- Intoxication
- Over-the-counter drug use
- Illness
- Aggressive driving
- Inadequate training
- Lack of experience
- Improperly loaded or overloaded cargo
- Lack of familiarity with the road
In some situations, more than one party is to blame for a trucking accident. In these cases, liability can be divided based on each party’s percentage of fault, also known as comparative negligence. Whether it is comparative negligence or total negligence, the victim(s) of the accident is meant to receive prompt reimbursement for any medical expenses, lost income or other necessary damages. Unfortunately, the promptness of a settlement can sometimes prevent victims from obtaining the right compensation. That’s where a personal injury attorney can help victims receive the compensation they deserve.
Kalka & Baer handles these types of truck accident cases. Our lawyers know the ins and outs of Georgia trucking laws and Georgia traffic laws. You can contact Kalka & Baer by calling (404) 907-1594 or by completing our online contact form. If one of our skilled lawyers takes your case on, he/she will work hard to reach a fair settlement with the insurance companies. We will protect your rights as the victim before settling your trucking accident claim.
Police reports, eyewitness testimony, expert witness testimony and evidence from the crash site (like photographs) are all strong pieces to be able to show truck driver negligence. Truck accident claims may also include indirect evidence to help show the negligence of the truck driver. A record of injuries caused by the truck accident can also help show the damages caused.
Among others, truck crash injuries may include:
- Cuts or lacerations
- Whiplash
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Abdominal injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
For more information about trucking accidents, check out our other truck-related blogs.