Each day, Californians face many hazards and risks when on the road. Whether as a motorist, passenger, or as a cyclist, a person can suffer severe injuries or even death when involved in an auto accident. Auto accidents involving tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles are a large part of this problem and it is important to understand how these types of accidents happen.
Statistic Overview
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) keeps a record of motor vehicle injuries and deaths. Collected data helps provide insight into roadway issues in its entirety, which could serve to foster solutions.
According to the NHTSA, the number of fatalities involving commercial vehicles and other large trucks include the following:
- In 2011, 282 people lost their lives in a collision involving a large truck.
- The following year, the number of reported fatalities dropped slightly to 261 deaths.
- In 2013, there were 259 reported deaths involving trucking accidents.
- The year 2014 experienced a jump in fatalities. 301 individuals lost their lives that year.
- California experienced 269 fatalities because of large trucking accidents in 2015.
Between 2011 and 2015, 39 reported deaths occurred in Orange County. Nearby county San Diego experienced 70 large truck-related deaths and Los Angeles experienced 430. These astonishing numbers should not be taken lightly.
Causes of Large Vehicle Crashes
Another source that tracks trucking accidents and the causes behind them is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This agency has identified critical events as well as critical reasons that lead to these types of accidents.
Critical Events – Critical events are situations that could set the opportunity for a collision to occur.
Critical Reasons – These are situations that take place right before a collision, which directly contributes to the accident. There are three categories of critical reasons for large vehicle accidents: the vehicle, the driver, and the environment.
Environmental reasons could include conditions such as extreme weather, and even roadway conditions. Auto factors could include conditions such as defective vehicle brakes or other similar mechanical failures. Reasons involving the driver could implicate many conditions. Some factors include non-performance conditions, such as a motorist falling asleep behind the wheel but they can also include performance issues such as a distracted driver.
Seeking Financial Restitution is Always Important
There are many state and federal regulations that demand truck drivers and trucking companies to obey. When these regulations are not observed, they have the potential to cause serious, and possibly fatal, consequences. When this happens, accident victims should always seek to obtain financial restitution for their grievances. Seeking the legal advice of an attorney can be fundamental in a successful claim.
The attorneys at SANFORD A. KASSEL, A Professional Law Corporation are highly skilled in the field of personal injury lawsuits involving truck accidents. The firm is dedicated to fighting for the rights of victims who have been injured because of a negligent truck driver or trucking company. Contact us now for a confidential and free consultation.
