Trucking Accidents in Connecticut

The Dangers of a Truck Collision

With approximately 15.5 million trucks in operation across the United States, it is no surprise that more than 5,000 people are killed in a serious trucking accident each and every year—meaning that a victim is either injured or killed every 16 minutes. Unfortunately, many of the drivers that are involved in a collision with a much larger vehicle stand very little chance of protecting themselves against the crushing force of an 18-wheeler. As such, statistics show that almost 98% of the time that a truck-related fatality occurs, the victim is the driver of a passenger car. Any given semi-truck on the road can weigh upwards of 40,000 lbs., so when a collision occurs, the damage is often catastrophic. Whether because of driver fatigue, intoxication, equipment failure or distracted driving practices, an irresponsible truck driver has the potential to cause irreversible damage.

Top Ten Causes of Truck Accidents

Although not all trucking accidents can be attributed to the fault of the truck driver, statistics show that nearly 77,000 of the 141,000 collisions that take place on the roadways across the country each year are, in fact, the fault of a commercial driver. Of these accidents, there are a variety of different reasons as to why the collision has happened, but the top ten causes are unfortunately not surprising. They are as follows:

1. 26% - Prescription drug use
2. 23% - Driving at unsafe speeds
3. 22% - Unfamiliar environment
4. 18% - Over-the-counter drug use
5. 14% - Failure to check surroundings
6. 13% - Driver fatigue
7. 9% - Illegal maneuvering
8. 8% - Distracted driving
9. 7% - Slow reaction time
10. 7% - Aggressive driving

All of these irresponsible driving practices have the potential to leave an unsuspecting victim permanently injured, or even dead, in the wake of a collision, but fortunately, the law is on the side of the wrongfully injured. Because of this, if you have been involved in a similar accident at the hands of a negligent truck driver, you have the right to pursue compensation—either through an insurance claim or through a personal injury lawsuit.

Were you injured in a serious crash in Hartford, CT?

If you have been involved in a serious trucking accident, it is unlikely that you were able to walk away unscathed. When a much smaller car collides with a multi-ton truck, the driver of the passenger vehicle often has no chance of avoiding a serious injury. For this reason, you may have suffered a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, broken bones, the loss of a limb, or even complete paralysis. If so, you have inevitably been forced to endure the overwhelming costs of medical treatment, spend time away from work in the time of your recovery, and deal with the emotional trauma of having been involved in terrifying accident. Fortunately, the law provides the victims of such accidents with certain rights—including the right to pursue compensation from the responsible party.

Negligently caused auto collisions continue to happen at an astounding rate each and every year, but it is important for the victims of these accidents to take a stand against such irresponsible driving practices. With the help of a Connecticut personal injury attorney from McCoy & McCoy, you can seek damages through a personal injury lawsuit or negotiate a monetary settlement with the insurance company for the pain and suffering that you have been put through unnecessarily. Depending on the extent of your injuries and the circumstances of the accident, a legal professional from our firm can guide you through the appropriate legal process. To get started on recovering the compensation that you deserve, do not hesitate to fill out and submit a free case evaluation today or to call our office directly.