Truck crashes pose severe risk to passenger car occupants
On behalf of of Orin J. Cohen Law
Truck accidents can be catastrophic and even deadly for occupants of other vehicles on New York roadways. Because of the weight and mass of tractor-trailers, a collision with a truck can have especially damaging, long-term effects. In addition, the size disparity means that the people in smaller vehicles bear a much greater risk. Statistics collected by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show that 69 percent of the victims in accidents involving large trucks were in passenger vehicles, while only 16 percent of injured victims were occupants of the trucks.
Despite the fact that many drivers are focused on safe driving, a careless, fatigued or negligent truck driver can cause a serious accident. Each year, over 500,000 collisions across the country involve large trucks, and in 2015, over 4,300 of these crashes were fatal. The vast majority of fatalities in truck accidents are suffered by passenger car occupants. There are several common issues that lead to trucking collisions, including truck driver fatigue, mechanical failures, distracted driving or poor weather conditions.
After a truck accident, it can be important for drivers to protect themselves. If a driver is still in control of the vehicle and able to move, it can also be important to move to the side of the road. Calling police and providing details can help to document the accident while the memories are still fresh. In addition, prompt medical attention is critical, especially as not all serious injuries are immediately apparent.
People who have been injured in a big rig accident often require significant and expensive medical care and treatment. If it can be determined that it was caused by a speeding, distracted or otherwise negligent truck driver, they might want to have legal assistance when seeking compensation for their losses.