Trucking Crashes
When an 40-ton tractor-trailer collides with a passenger vehicle, the results are nearly always catastrophic and – all too often – fatal because of the truck’s substantially larger size and weight.
The trucking team at Coker Law has successfully represented hundreds of individuals who have suffered life changing injuries, and families who have suffered the death of a loved one, due to trucking-related crashes.
The dangers associated with trucking accidents are confirmed by statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute
Critical Trucking Crash Facts You Should Know
- Every 16 minutes, a person is killed or injured in a crash involving a large truck.
- A total of 3,986 people died in large truck crashes in 2016.
- 66% of the victims killed were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles.
- 97% of vehicle occupants killed in two-vehicle crashes involving a passenger vehicle and a large truck in 2016 were occupants of the passenger vehicles.
- 48% of large truck crash deaths in 2016 occurred from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- 73% of deaths in large truck crashes in 2016 were in crashes involving tractor-trailers and 21% were in crashes involving single-unit trucks.
Why Trucking Crashes Require Additional Experience
Starting with the investigation of these cases, truck crashes require specialized knowledge and an experienced legal team. Because the harm and losses are usually so great, you want an attorney that knows how to identify all the parties involved in the shipping cycle, as well as all available insurance policies. Far too often, inexperienced attorneys handle trucking cases similarly to how they would a simple car wreck or a slip-and-fall case, potentially overlooking insurance policies that could provide millions of dollars in coverage for a crash victim.
Additionally, it is crucial to consider the extensive federal regulations and industry standards that apply to the trucking industry: hours of service, maintenance requirements and driver training. Even a case that initially appears to have questionable liability on the part of the trucking company or truck driver can be successfully prosecuted if the attorney is familiar with the industry standards and federal regulations.
We walk through an example scenario in this explainer graphic to help you see the many layers an experienced trucking crash attorney needs to dig through to find the responsible parities.
This level of investigation and litigation requires not only skilled lawyers with knowledge and experience, but also the financial strength to hire the best investigators, crash reconstruction engineers and other experts. These experts can assist in building your case for trial from the very beginning while the evidence is still available. At Coker Law, we treat every case as if it will go to trial. This strengthens your case, shows the defense that you are taking your case seriously, and ultimately results in maximizing your recovery.
Common Causes of Trucking Crashes
- Distracted and fatigued driving
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Driver inexperience
- Improper cargo loading
About Our Trucking Crash Attorneys
Our trucking crash attorneys understand the commercial trucking industry, its interstate regulations and the required safety equipment. They’ve also seen large insurance carriers try to get the injured person to accept a settlement that will in no way cover their injuries or losses. Coker Law has the resources, investigators and experience to take a trucking crash case to trial, which can better maximize the financial compensation for our clients.
At Coker Law, our experienced trucking team includes our own in-house investigator, who knows how to dig underneath the surface to uncover what happened and which individual or company is truly at fault. We work with a fast-response panel of experts in lighting and visibility, cargo securement, truck maintenance and trucking operations.
There are many organizations and agencies involved when it comes to a trucking crash. At Coker Law, we will thoroughly investigate if a claim should be pursued against the truck driver, trucking company, tractor-trailer owner, maintenance shop, loading warehouse, manufacturer of a defective component or any other individuals or organizations responsible for a road hazard that contributed to the crash. We have also successfully pursued claims against negligent shippers, like Macy’s, for hiring unsafe trucking companies to deliver its products.
Trucking Crash Cases & Reports
IF YOU’RE INVOLVED IN A CRASH, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
If you are injured by a negligent truck or automobile driver, speak with an experienced trucking crash attorney. You may qualify to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and other expenses related to your injuries. To speak with a trucking crash attorney or for more information, call (904) 356-6071 or click here to schedule a free consultation.
