Tractor trailers, commonly known as trucks or 18-wheelers, frequently leave victims with severe injuries and a long road to recovery. A loaded cargo truck can weigh 80,000 pounds, whereas the average weight of a vehicle is typically around 4,000 pounds, making these crashes that much more dangerous. The Fayetteville trucking accident attorneys at Maginnis Howard have years of experience recovering millions for victims and their families.
Common Trucking Accident Causes
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), there were 6,507 tractor-trailer truck crashes in 2023. Those collisions resulted in 1,138 injuries and 76 fatalities. Due to their size alone, trucking accidents can have grave consequences, especially for single-passenger vehicles and motorcycles. These crashes are, in some cases, avoidable, but a driver’s negligence results in tragedy. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:
- Driver Fatigue: Companies rely on truck drivers to drive hundreds of miles in a single day, several days in a row. Even experienced truckers who know their limits can struggle with fatigue and its consequences. Drivers who don’t get adequate rest may become drowsy or distracted.
- Distracted Driving: No one on the road should engage in any activity other than driving or riding. This is especially important when the vehicle is 30,000 pounds without cargo.
- Improper Loading: A fully loaded truck can weigh 80,000 pounds. If cargo is not properly tied down or evenly distributed, the driver could lose control of the truck.
- Blind Spots: A popular phrase in the trucking world is, “If you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you.” Because truckers’ blind spots are so vast and cars are so low to the ground, it’s imperative that they properly check before merging, changing lanes, or otherwise shifting.
- Inadequate Drivers: Trucking companies are responsible for providing sufficient training to avoid accidents.
Trucking/Tractor-Trailer Injuries
Motor vehicle accidents contribute to countless injuries each year. When these collisions involve a tractor-trailer truck, there is a heightened risk of severe injury and death. Some of the most common injuries from a Fayetteville trucking accident include:
- Neck trauma – The natural flexibility of the cervical muscles (those in your neck) can create a recipe for a brain injury when force is applied. Your body, including your neck, absorbs the force of the crash. Acceleration-deceleration of the brain, commonly known as whiplash, occurs when the brain is suddenly jolted back and forth.
- Head injuries – Motor vehicle collisions are responsible for over 50% of all reported traumatic brain injuries each year. The consequences can be lifelong, whether the injury is mild or severe.
- Spinal cord injuries – There are roughly 18,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries in the United States each year. Because the spine is responsible for connecting your brain to the rest of your body, injuries to the spinal cord are almost always catastrophic and life-changing.
- Burns – Burn injuries affect drivers, passengers, and emergency responders.
- Permanent scarring – Permanent scarring or disfigurement can change your quality of life in numerous ways. Aside from any physical disability, an injured claimant may also be left with unsightly and emotionally distressing physical scarring.
- Internal injuries – Left untreated, internal injuries can slowly and painfully destroy the body from the inside. Bleeding, damage to internal organs, broken ribs, and other injuries that may not be visible from the outside must be treated immediately. That’s why seeking medical attention is essential, even if you don’t see any external injuries.
- Broken bones, lacerations, and bruising – Perhaps the most common injuries involved in motor vehicle accidents, broken bones, lacerations, and bruising can require a long and painful recovery time.
- Death – 1% of all trucking accidents in 2020 resulted in at least one fatality. A disproportionate number of truck accidents cause death in comparison with passenger vehicle collisions.
Trucking/Tractor-Trailer Liability
In any personal injury case, the first step is to establish liability. In trucking accidents, there are a few parties that may be liable. Trucking companies are uniquely responsible for screening drivers for alcohol or drug-related issues or the loss of a commercial driver’s license. Training should be provided as there are differences between driving a car and a tractor-trailer, each with additional responsibilities. Truckers must learn to handle the truck’s large size, navigate tight turns, or react appropriately in high-pressure situations. Proper training in safe driving techniques, including maintaining distance, managing speed, and addressing blind spots, can significantly reduce the risk of errors that may result in serious accidents. Unprepared drivers operating such heavy machinery can make mistakes that endanger themselves and others.
Compensation After Trucking Accidents
Truck accident compensation can vary widely based on the facts of your particular case. Not only will your attorney consider the physical, mental, and financial toll the accident has taken on your life, but they will also look for any possible insurance coverage to compensate you. Your attorney may pursue damages for:
- Past and future medical bills, including long-term care
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and permanent disability
- Property damage
- Punitive damages (strictly to punish the at-fault driver if the circumstances support it)
Contact a Fayetteville Trucking Accident Attorney
Negligent truck drivers pose a significant threat to other drivers on the road. If their negligence leads to a collision, the victim can hold the driver and the employer liable for damages. The skilled Fayetteville trucking accident attorneys at Maginnis Howard can assist you in navigating the legal process. We offer free consultations and a contingency fee agreement to all victims of tractor-trailer accidents. This means you will only have to pay legal fees when we recover compensation on your behalf.
To schedule a free consultation, call us at (910) 339-6603, submit an email through our contact forms, or speak chat with a Live Agent. Our Fayetteville trucking accident attorneys serve clients across the Carolinas.
