Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents
- Truck driver negligence
- Truck driver distractions like texting and driving
- Improper training and other truck company negligence
- Overloading or improperly loading truck beds
- Improper truck maintenance
- Tired truck drivers exceeding the hours of service limit
- Truck drivers operating while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Trucks that are improperly loaded or overloaded
Other Types of Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Today, commercial vehicles may also include:
- Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing app vehicles
- Taxis, limousines and large passenger vans
- School buses, public transportation buses, motor coaches driven by tour operators and other private businesses
- Tractor-trailers hauling heavy equipment, cars, trucks or specialty cargo (i.e., houses or construction cranes)
- Delivery vans, trucks and cars driven exclusively for business purposes (i.e., florists, wedding vendors, dog groomers)
- Moving trucks, box trucks and extended-cab semis
- Tanker trucks transporting hazardous materials (i.e., flammable gas, liquids)
Bus and large truck accidents injured more than 93,000 people in 2019 alone.
Five Must-Know Facts About Big Truck Accidents
- A 52% increase in these accidents has been noted since 2009;
- 74% of all fatal passenger vehicle cases include a large truck;
- Tire defects account for around 30% (the most common cause) of all truck-related accidents;
- Most of these accidents occur during the day — between noon and 3 PM, up to 19%; and
- 68% of all truck fatalities are passenger vehicle occupants.
Who May Be Responsible and Liable for a Trucking Accident?
Most trucks are commercial business vehicles. This means that the company and businesses employed by the company are responsible for the trucks’ maintenance and safe operation. Therefore, many parties may be held responsible and liable when a horrific and often fatal truck accident occurs. But generally, liability for a truck accident falls between three possible parties:
- The truck driver: If the truck driver intentionally drove while sleepy, drunk, on-drugs, distracted, or violated regulations that regulate how long they may drive without a break, and this led to an accident, then the truck driver may be held liable for damages.
- The company that owns the vehicle: If the trucking company that owns the semi-truck or commercial vehicle hired a driver who absolutely should not have been on the road, had a previous bad driving record, had problems with drugs and/or alcohol, or the company did not schedule regular maintenance checks for their trucks, and this negligence led to an accident, then the trucking company may be held liable for damages.
- Vehicle parts manufacturers: Defective parts on the vehicle, particularly tires and brakes, are many times the cause of trucking and/or serious car accidents. If this is the case in your accident, we may be able to pursue damages from the manufacturer of the defective parts.
We’ll Answer the Call
Choose a Semi-Truck and Car Accident Attorney with the Skill and Reputation to Succeed
If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious automobile, semi-truck or commercial vehicle accident, you need legal representation you can trust and rely upon. Jim Ballinger and the attorneys who work with Louisville Lawyer, PLLC, are very competent and experienced and will zealously fight to get you the compensation you rightfully deserve. Please feel free to email Jim at jim@louisvillelawyer.com or call (502) 426-3215 for a free consultation. Jim, or one of his team, would also be happy to come to visit you in-person or via zoom to make matters more convenient for meeting with you.
