.png)
Semi-Truck Accident & Trucking Collision Statistics in the U.S. & California:
The reality is there are over 15 million trucks driving on the road in any given year and over 500,000 folks are injured (about 140,000 with serious injuries) in commercial truck accidents each year (according to the U.S. Department of Transportation). Of these accidents, there are about 4,500 to 6,500 folks who die in these unfortunate accidents each year. Alarmingly, over 98% of the time, it is the passenger or driver of the other vehicle, not the driver or passenger of the commercial truck, who is killed in these deadly accidents. California is a big leader in this statistic given its heavy Pacific Coast ports with tons of cargo being offloaded onto commercial trucks for transport on California highways and roads.
In recent years, government organizations and commercial trucking companies have done much to reduce the number of serious truck wrecks on the freeway systems - the reason is due to the fact that big rig trucks, semis, and 18-wheelers are extremely dangerous when they strike a passenger automobile and causes a truck vs. car accident. The San Diego Truck Accident Law Firm, The Law Offices of Mark C. Blane, have witnessed commercial truck companies claim they are revising their internal safety policies and procedures to try and reduce these deadly accidents, but then, turn around and continue to put company profits ahead of driver safety.
The highest number of fatal or deadly commercial truck accidents tends to happen in California given its busy ports and loading of cargo onto these trucks. For example, in 2003, there was a staggering 5725 fatal auto v. commercial truck accidents! These accidents are potentially deadly when you consider that a big truck can weigh more than 80,000 pounds and can be up to 75 feet in length. In 2007, California saw about 10,626 non-fatal truck accidents, just under 7000 truck accidents required tow truck services to tow away the truck wreckage, and 3 truck accidents required Hazmat services. You combine this with the fact that commercial truck drivers are under pressure to make their connections and sometimes resort to amphetamines to stay awake. Sadly just over 1% of all fatal commercial big rig truck accidents can be attributed to drug abuse by the truck driver.
Entities That May Be Held Liable in a Commercial Trucking Accident Are:
- Commercial trucking companies;
- Independent contractors;
- Trucking equipment manufacturers;
- Truck driver employers; and
- Truck drivers.
Establishing a third party's liability for a commercial trucking accident is complicated, and it is even more complex when a truck driver is an independent contractor in a large trucking firm. These firms are well acquainted with trucking investigations and are famous for aggressively defending against injury claims.
.png)
Hiring an Experienced California Truck Accident Injury Attorney
If you or someone you know has been injured in a commercial truck accident, you do not have to deal with the aftermath of such an accident alone. Our team knows what to do in order to protect your legal rights in such an accident. Did you know the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires the use of sleep logs by commercial truck drivers, and they can be a key piece of evidence in your California big rig or trailer truck accident? Did you know the insurance companies for these big rig trucks have financial incentives to protect their commercial truck driver, who may be at fault for your accident? Did you know gathering key pieces of evidence is extremely important in any automobile case, but even more so with commercial truck accidents?
You can contact us online or call our office directly at 619-813-7955 to schedule your free consultation with one of our car accident lawyers. Our award-winning team has been servicing clients throughout San Diego, California, since 1999.