It won’t be surprising if you haven’t heard of a big rig accident lawyer yet, much less even think of having the contact details of such an attorney on your smartphone. Even if you are aware that there are such lawyers, you might not see the need of hiring the services of one. However, there are two good reasons why you should consider having the contact details of truck accident attorney. First is that trucking companies with large fleets likely have one or more truck accident lawyers on retainer. Second is that you just might find yourself being involved in the approximately half-a-million truck accidents that occur in the United States each year.
If the 2017 truck accidents statistics surprised you, there is more to it than just the number and this article will get to that in a bit. It is true that big rig drivers receive specialized training to drive a large vehicle and would need to acquire certifications to work as one. Studies show, however, that human error and negligence are the main causes of truck accidents. This is one of the main reasons why there is such a high number of big rig accidents each year.
The following are other truck accident statistics that will also surprise you.
Fatal Crashes Involving Trucks and Buses
Statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or FMCSA reveals that nearly 5,000 accidents involving trucks and buses resulted in deaths in 2017. This number shows a 9 percent increase in fatalities from the previous year. The trend in truck and bus accident related deaths since 2009 to 2017 shows a sharp 40 percent increase. This just means that you may want to take extra care when driving near and around big rigs, trucks and buses.
Injuries from Truck and Bus Accidents
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA shows that big rig and bus accidents in 2017 caused injuries to approximately 116,000 individuals. Just like the previous statistic, this number also increased from the previous year. Between the years 2009 to 2015, the number of injuries each year due to accidents involving trucks and buses increased by more than 60 percent.
Fast stats: Nearly 50,000 big rigs and over 7,000 buses figured in accidents that caused injuries
Property Damage Due to Truck and Bus Accidents
Some may heave a sigh of relief with this statistic. From the approximately 500,000 truck and bus crashes recorded in 2017, more than 363,000 of it only ended in damage to property. This means that you do have a decent chance of getting in a vehicular accident with a big rig or a bus and walk away unscathed. If you happen to be one of those lucky enough to tell the tale after a collision with a truck or a bus, what should you do?
Fast stats: Approximately 24,000 big rigs and more than 13,000 buses were involved in accidents that did not result in deaths.
What to Do If You’re in a Truck Accident
If you are able to move your vehicle to safety onto the side of the road, do so to help prevent further accidents on the scene. Take out your emergency car kit and set it at a prescribed distance from your vehicle. Light up flares near the scene to warn oncoming traffic of the accident. Call 911 and wait for help to arrive. Exchange information with drivers from other vehicles involved including full name, contact details and insurance information. Take pictures and videos of the scene of the accident to help paint a picture of how the accident transpired.
It will be a good idea to look for and seek the advice of truck accident attorney as soon as possible if you ever find yourself involved in a truck accident. This will help level the playing field when you file a claim against trucking operators who already have one or more expert lawyers on retainer.
