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Big Rig Accidents Cause Big Damages

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
purple-big-rig-crashA fully loaded big rig can weigh more than 15 times as much as a typical car. The average weight of a passenger vehicle is about 2.5 tons, while a semi with a full trailer can legally weigh up to 40 tons. The stark weight disparity between a commercial tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle can cause complex accidents involving multiple victims and resulting in fatalities and/or serious injury. Victims of an at-fault truck driver or trucking company can face enormous medical bills, an extended recovery period, and even drastic life changes. The massive weight of a tractor-trailer also requires more time to stop than a passenger vehicle. If a vehicle and a big rig are both driving at 40 mph and start braking at the same moment, the tractor-trailer will travel about 45 feet further before coming to a complete stop. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), large trucks are more likely to cause fatal multiple-vehicle crashes. Reflecting this increased risk, trucks that haul freight must carry insurance coverage based on the weight of the truck and the hazards of the material being hauled. In 2018, 82 percent of fatal crashes involving large trucks were multiple-vehicle crashes, compared with 62 percent for fatal crashes involving passenger vehicles. Statistics for the same year showed a three percent increase in fatalities from truck accidents. As an emergency response to the global pandemic, the State of California issued truck overweight permits for transporting essential goods. This permit allows up to a maximum of 88,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, instead of the usual 80,000-pound limit. Americans for Safe and Efficient Transportation, a coalition representing truck companies and freight shippers, is pushing for a national increase of truck weight limits. The group advocates raising the current maximum to 97,000 pounds, spread over six axles.

Common Causes of Big Rig Collisions

Multiple factors can contribute to a collision involving a big rig, including vehicle failure, overcompensating while steering, tailgating, and driver fatigue. According to an FMCSA crash causation study:
  • 27 percent of trucks were found to have brake problems
  • 19 percent of drivers were unfamiliar with the route
  • Speeding was the most frequently reported factor in driver-related fatalities
  • Distraction or inattention was the second most commonly given cause for large truck fatalities

Freight Trucks are Big Industry

The trucking industry transports about 96 percent of commercial goods consumed in the Sacramento region, according to a 2015 Caltrans analysis. According to the American Trucking Association, virtually everything that is consumed or purchased travels by truck at some point on its journey to the consumer. Trucks not only serve as a primary method of transportation but also as a key link for rail and water shipments. The nation’s freight transportation industry is expected to increase over the next 30 years. The demand for cheap products and a national “just-in-time” delivery network has placed trucking companies under pressure to move heavier and heavier loads. While half of the large freight trucks operate within just 50 miles of their origination, trucks used for long-distance freight movement usually haul multiple trailers, are heavier, and drive five times more miles per year than single-unit trucks.

COVID-19 Trucking Issues

Due to reduced traffic congestion on roadways from shelter-in-place orders, freight trucks have been traveling faster. Increased vehicle speed is playing a bigger role in the crashes that are taking place. In response to freight demands due to the global pandemic, the FMCSA suspended some longstanding restrictions on work hours. Truckers moving essential goods, such as health care supplies and food supplies, are no longer are prohibited from working more than 70 hours in an eight-day period and are not required to take a 30-minute break, every eight hours. Independent truckers are calling for full deregulation of all shipments, not just commodities deemed essential, to eliminate confusion. Amid concerns about the spread of COVID-19, truckers are also facing long hauls with few available bathrooms, limited access to food, and a lack of places to park when tired, since many rest areas have been closed. Fatigued drivers are at a higher risk of causing a collision.

After a Trucking Accident

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a serious truck accident, it is important to consult with a qualified lawyer. A Sacramento truck accident lawyer from our firm can promptly secure evidence supporting your case, such as investigating the accident scene and collecting black box data and driving logs to prove the driver or his or her employer was negligent. Our experienced personal injury lawyers have helped numerous victims of negligence and will evaluate your claim during a free, no-obligation consultation. We provide our qualified legal services on a contingency basis, which means you only pay if we recover compensation for your claim.

Call the Arnold Law Firm at (916) 777-7777 or you can reach us online by filling out a Free Case Evaluation form.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.