Tractor-Trailer Accidents
Tractor-trailer trucks that are operated by trained and responsible drivers and are properly maintained are a vital resource in the United States economy. However, when negligence on the part of a tractor-trailer operator or owner causes an accident with another vehicles, the results are often devastating.
Those injured or suffering the loss of a family member due to a tractor trailer accident that was not their fault deserve compensation for the associated physical, financial and emotional burdens.
What Makes Tractor-trailers so Dangerous?
Negligently operated tractor-trailers are an extreme hazard on the road, because accidents involving these colossal vehicles often lead to major injury or death. The increased dangerousness of tractor-trailers, also known as semi-trucks, is due to several factors, including:
Size: A tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which is 16 times the size of an average passenger car. The impact of a collision with a commercial truck of this size is easily catastrophic.
Poor Braking Ability: The average tractor-trailer needs approximately 350 feet to come to a stop from traveling at 60 miles-per-hour. This is more than the length of a football field.
Lack of Maneuverability: Truckers have a harder time avoiding hazards on the road such has accidents, debris and the mistakes of other drivers because their vehicle needs more time and space to alter its course.
Dangerous Cargo: Many commercial trucks on the road transport flammable or explosive cargo, which can turn even a small accident into a tragic event.
Nationwide Tractor-Trailer Accident Statistics
- More than 1.5 million tractor-trailer accidents that caused injury occurred in 2009
- Deaths from accidents involving large trucks or busses totaled more than 3,600 in 2009
- Injuries from accidents involving large trucks or busses amounted to approximately 74,000 in 2009
Georgia Tractor-Trailer Accident Statistics
- More than 1,200 people died in Georgia tractor-trailer accidents in 2009
- Of the 1,200 deaths, 919 were occupants of the passenger vehicle
Contact Us
If you or a loved one have been injured or have lost a family member in a tractor-trailer accident involving a large commercial truck, please contact The Trucking Attorneys today. We are leaders in the field of trucking accident recovery and will put our extensive resources and experience to work for you. Our attorneys will obtain the maximum compensation for you and your family and ensure that justice is served against the party responsible for your accident. Contact us for a free consultation to determine how you can receive compensation for medical treatment, loss of property, lost wages, and physical and emotional pain and suffering.