Phoenix Truck Accident Lawyers

Large trucks are involved in some of the deadliest accidents in the U.S. Thorough knowledge of federal and state commercial vehicle laws is needed for any lawyer who handles these cases. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations are guidelines that trucking companies must follow, and include rules concerning equipment and the maximum number of hours a trucker can drive.

Drivers who violate 'hours of service' regulations fall victim to driver fatigue, which is associated with long hours at the wheel and ultimately contributes to many Arizona truck accidents. Careful examination of a driver's record often shows contraventions to such regulations. As these records are only maintained for six months, it is urgent they be obtained prior to their destruction, as without a record it is difficult to prove a trucking company's negligence.

It helps to put the enormity of the damage caused by large truck accidents in perspective by looking at the figures for just one year. For instance, 475,000 trucks, that is vehicles heavier than 10,000 pounds, were involved in traffic accidents in 1999, with 4898 of those being fatal accidents that killed 5362 people. This means that 13% of all traffic deaths were the result of truck wrecks while 142,000 injuries also resulted from these crashes. In 1999, approximately one out of eight deaths on U.S. roadways was the result of collisions with large trucks and, of these victims, 78% occupied another vehicle, 8% were not in a vehicle, and 14% occupied the trucks involved. Injuries involving large trucks in 1999 included 74% in another vehicle, 3% that were not in a vehicle, and 23% from the truck involved in the wreck.

By comparing large trucks to passenger vehicles when it comes to multiple vehicle accidents in which at least one person died, we can see plainly how much more likely it is for other vehicles to be involved in large truck crashes involving fatalities. Of fatal accidents, 84% of the large trucks were involved while only 62% of fatal accidents by passenger vehicles involved more than one vehicle. Fatal truck wrecks are also more likely to take place away from metropolitan areas, with 68% of them taking place in rural areas. Time of day, and even whether it was a weekend, also played a factor in these accidents. Fatal crashes happened 67% during the day and 79% during the week, while during the week 74% occurred between the hours of 6 AM to 6 PM. Weekends saw fatal crashes happen 62% of the time at night.

It is also disturbing to note that one percent of the fatal truck crashes in 1999 involved drivers who were intoxicated, with blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of .10 grams per decilitre or more. When compared to drivers of other vehicles, this figure may not sound so bad, as 17% of passenger cars, 20% of light trucks, and 28% of motorcycles involved in fatal accidents in 1999 were drunk. It is comforting to know that drivers of large trucks tended to be less likely to have had their licenses suspended or revoked previously, with 9% of truck drivers as compared to 13% of passenger car operators falling into this category. In contrast, nearly 30% of truck drivers of large trucks had at least one previous speeding conviction, whereas under 20% of drivers of passenger cars in fatal crashes had been convicted of speeding.

For all Phoenix vehicle accident cases it is essential to preserve evidence when investigating the accident and to allow doctors and other expert witnesses a chance to carefully assess any injuries. We invite those who have been in an accident or their loved ones to call Breyer Law Offices now or CLICK HERE to submit a Simple Case Form. Our initial consultation is at no cost and, if we do agree to accept the case, we will work on a contingency basis, meaning that we only get paid in the event of a monetary award or recovery of funds. It is important that people with valid claims do not delay, as in order to receive compensation for injuries a lawsuit must be filed within the statute of limitations.

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