Truck Accident Trends | Truck Accident Lawyer Hyattsville MD
For anyone looking for a good truck accident lawyer Hyattsville MD can seem like an overwhelming place. Many law firms advertise that they can help injured victims recover losses after traffic accidents, but not every firm understands why truck accidents — in particular — can be very costly and traumatic.
At Cohen & Cohen, we believe that it’s important to know and understand common trends among truck accident cases. These trends often provide information that may help other drivers be safer on the road; it can also help a capable lawyer to formulate a strong personal injury claim for a client.
The legal team at Cohen & Cohen, P.C — as a top truck accident lawyer Hyattsville MD can provide — knows that each truck accident case is unique. When determining the cause of an accident, many factors will likely come into play. When an injured victim wishes to seek a personal injury claim, he or she may be able to seek damages from multiple parties because multiple people may be held liable. If this is the case, seeking legal counsel from a truck accident lawyer in Hyattsville MD may be beneficial.
That being said, there are a few trends occurring among truck accident cases that drivers may be interested to learn about — especially if they have been involved in a truck accident themselves.
General Truck Accident Statistics
For a better idea about how truck accidents fit into the bigger picture, consider the following statistics:
- Of the nearly 30,000 fatal crashes that happened in the U.S. in 2014, 12.2% (3,649) of those crashes involved at least one commercial truck or bus.
- In additional to those fatal crashes, it’s estimated that around 6 million nonfatal traffic accidents occurred in the U.S. during that year. Large trucks and buses are estimated to have accounted for approximately 7.8% (472,000) of those nontal crashes.
- The total number of vehicle miles traveled in the U.S. in 2014 was 3,025.7 billion miles. Large trucks traveled 279.1 billion miles, accounting for 9.2% of all miles traveled.
Experience and Training
For commercial truck drivers, it is essential to have substantial training before getting out onto the road. Unfortunately, some trucking companies have been known to give new drivers minimal training before allowing them to operate large trucks because they are understaffed or unwilling to pay the added training costs.
Although experienced drivers often charge more and are therefore more expensive for companies to hire, a seasoned truck accident lawyer Hyattsville MD can provide will know that experienced truck drivers are often safer on the road.
Consider these facts:
- It’s estimated that around 6 million drivers in the U.S. have valid commercial driver’s licenses and are actively working within the U.S.
- Compared to passenger vehicle drivers, truck drivers who are involved in an accident are:
- More likely to have had a previously recorded crash
- More likely to have had at least one previously recorded speeding conviction
- Less likely to have had their license suspended or revoked in the past
Alcohol and Drug Use
Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is one of the most common causes of traffic fatalities today. According to recent data:
- Nearly 10,000 accident fatalities occurred in the U.S. in a single year because of drunk drivers — which accounts for 31% of all alcohol-related traffic fatalities
- This equals an average of 1 alcohol-related traffic fatality occurring every 53 minutes
- The economic cost of alcohol-impaired driving for the U.S. in a single year, according to the latest available data, is $44 billion.
While truck drivers are less likely to be driving under the influence at the time of a serious crash, it’s important to consider that drivers may consume prescription drugs while operating a vehicle. One study conducted by the FMCSA found that 26% of fatal crashes caused by truck driver errors involved a driver who had consumed one or more prescription drugs before the crash.
Not all prescription drugs render a person less capable of driving, but as a good truck accident lawyer Hyattsville MD has to offer will know that there are many prescription drugs that may affect a person’s ability to drive. Even when consumed legally, drivers are still not allowed to operate a motor vehicle because their judgment may be impaired. If they do, this may influence the victim’s claim.
Speeding, Fatigue, and Distraction
Drug and alcohol use among commercial truck drivers may not be as high as with passenger car drivers, but speeding, distraction, and fatigue are three other types of driver errors that may lead to accidents.
Because truck drivers may be on the road for days at a time — and because some companies choose to pay drivers based on how quickly they can transport their cargo — drivers may feel compelled to drive for long stretches of time with little rest. When an individual is looking for legal counsel from a truck accident lawyer Hyattsville MD residents trust, these factors may play a big role in causing the serious accident they were involved in.
According to one study of crashes caused by truck driver errors:
- 23% involved speeding
- 22% were caused by navigational errors made by truck drivers — i.e., the truck drivers caused an accident because they were unfamiliar with the area
- 13% involved fatigue
- 14% were caused by a driver forgetting to check blind spots before turning
- 7% involved aggressive driving
Any experienced truck accident lawyer Hyattsville MD provides will know that most truck crashes involve several different factors and causes. Although an accident may result from one specific mistake, it is common for a driver — or multiple drivers — to make several mistakes leading up to the accident.
Why do these trends matter?
For individuals who have been injured in a trucking accident, working with a truck accident lawyer Hyattsville MD can trust may be a big help. It is also important for clients to know that they are receiving legal counsel from a Hyattsville MD truck accident lawyer who is familiar with local laws but also knows about the bigger trends in traffic accidents. In serious truck accidents where other drivers and passengers are injured, it is imperative for a good lawyer to know what problems to look for. One small factor can make a huge difference for a client’s injury claim.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer Hyattsville MD Trusts
At Cohen & Cohen, we have experience handling truck accident cases in the Hyattsville area. If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash, please don’t hesitate to contact our office today for a free consultation. Together, we’ll look over your case and figure out which factors may have played a role in the accident. To talk with a truck accident lawyer Hyattsville MD residents trust, contact us today at (301) 250-1957.
