Carr & Carr Personal Injury Attorneys Oklahoma Arkansas

We have all noticed the increase of 18 wheelers on our roads and highways in recent years, as trains have been used less for transporting goods. A typical passenger vehicle weighs a bit over two tons (4,000 pounds or so) whereas a big rig fully loaded can weigh as much as 40 tons (80,000 pounds). There’s no doubt as to who has the advantage in the event of an accident.

Even though the trucking industry is highly regulated, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that over 400,000 big trucks are involved in accidents each year. In most of the accidents it is the driver or passengers in the smaller vehicle who are hurt and perhaps killed, while the truck driver sustains only minor injuries, if any at all.

Driver Fatigue a Big Factor
Trucking companies keep their drivers on tight schedules. Drivers keep logs of their driving time and rest time, and there are regulations as to how long they can drive without taking a rest. But logbooks can be falsified if necessary when a deadline must be met.

Truckers can be delayed by many unforeseen factors such as traffic congestion, bad weather, or a problem with the truck’s load. Trucks are often loaded by a separate loading company who may or may not have done a good job. Truckers may often load their own trucks, but in both cases the driver is required to inspect the load for safety.

When the driver is behind in his schedule he must drive more quickly and may get overtired and less attentive to road conditions. Some newer trucks have two drivers, with a bed and kitchen behind the cabin so that one driver can relax while the other drives. If this becomes more common perhaps it will help in avoiding accidents.

Give the Trucks Space
Meanwhile, people continue to be injured by truck accidents, often with severe injuries such as brain or spinal cord injuries which then require daily assistance with living. If you are driving near an 18-wheeler, be sure and allow plenty of space for that heavy truck to slow down and speed up when necessary, or change lanes. Remember that the driver has large blind spots on all four sides of his truck. If you are driving where you cannot see the driver, you know that he cannot see you either.

At Carr & Carr we have long experience in fighting for people injured in truck accidents. Please contact our office if you have been in such an accident, or if you have a loved one injured in that way. We will be glad to give you a free consultation and case evaluation.