Full of hope and dreams for the future, Billy Johnson headed out on the highway toward home after just graduating from college, looking forward to some time at home with his family before starting his career. Everything changed in mere seconds when an 18 wheeler going the other direction swerved out of control, charging into Billy's lane, crushing his car like a tin can. It is amazing that Billy survived both this big rig accident and being comatose for four months. After awaking from his coma, Billy and his family were devastated to learn he was permanently paralyzed from the waist down.
A police investigation of this semi truck accident found that the cause for this life changing event was simply the fatigued truck driver falling asleep at the wheel. Horrifying stories like this happen all the time. Unfortunately, many victims don't live and those that do often don't get the proper legal help and representation they deserve.
This article details some startling statistics about these accidents and what you should do if you or a loved one are involved in a big rig accident.
Alarming Statistics
Trucking companies most always side with their truck drivers, blaming the victims of these accidents, even when it's clear the cause was truck driver negligence. Even worse, the hiring process many trucking companies employ allows them to hire people who don't speak or read English, resulting in truck drivers who cannot read or understand road signs. In addition, trucking companies don't often require drug testing or check police records, allowing them to hire people with drug and alcohol problems and even with past DIU arrests.
Trucking companies are in business to make money and that means getting shipments delivered on time. They don't usually place a high priority on protecting helpless motorists who could potentially become a victim of a big rig accident. Recent semi truck accident statistics show that 12% of all traffic related deaths and 4% of all traffic related injuries involve 18 wheelers. These statistics further show that 77% of those injured and 86% of those killed were drivers of small non-commercial vehicles, while semi truck drivers usually walk away from accidents with little or no injury.
One recent truck driver involved in a semi truck accident used a fake Social Security number to get a commercial driver's license. In addition to several immigration arrests and an inability to satisfactorily speak and read English, this truck driver had been cited for a number of truck safety regulations, yet he was still on the road. His reckless driving caused an accident resulting in the deaths of three generations of two families - a 14 year old boy, a pregnant woman carrying twins, two mothers, and a grandmother. The truck driver who caused this accident walked away unharmed.
If You're Affected By A Big Rig Accident
Tragedies in the form of a semi truck accident happen daily and the sad thing is that most can and should have been prevented. Even with the strict regulations set regarding the hiring practices and acceptable work hours for these drivers, trucking companies continually ignore them in an attempt to increase profits at the cost of the lives of others.
If you or a loved one is affected by a semi truck accident, you should seek the help of a qualified, experienced, and knowledgeable attorney so you have an expert on your side to make sure you receive the care and compensation you deserve.
Author Resource:-
Christine O'Kelly is an author for Jim Adler & Associates, lawyers specializing in helping semi truck accident victims. They have protected the rights of those involved in a big rig accident for over a decade.
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