| Large trucks, 18-wheelers and semi truck accidents | | | | harder to control, cannot stop as quickly and are an |
| killed or injured almost 111,000 Americans in 2006. | | | | overall more dangerous vehicle, often comparing |
| From this number, almost 5,000 involved fatalities | | | | them to an unguided out of control missile on the |
| with the remaining 106,000 sustaining injuries from | | | | highway, thus increasing the number of semi truck |
| these semi truck accidents. Causes include many | | | | accidents. |
| factors and are not limited to speeding, driver | | | | Damage to our nations roads and bridges are another |
| inexperience, fatigue of the drivers, poor weather | | | | factor that needs to be considered. It's not just the |
| conditions and alcohol/drug abuse. It goes without | | | | shear weight of a fully loaded 18-wheeler that |
| saying, heavy semi trucks should always be treated | | | | damages the roadway, but often 18-wheeler crashes |
| with caution. | | | | involving dangerous or flammable cargo do additional |
| Why Semi Accidents Occur | | | | damage to roads and bridges. The catastrophic bridge |
| Lack of proper maintenance by the companies | | | | collapse of Interstate 35 in Minneapolis, Minnesota in |
| responsible for the routine safety checks and | | | | 2007 involved many large trucks. This was a tragedy |
| maintenance of semi trucks is often a major cause | | | | that killed 13 people and left an additional 145 people |
| of semi truck accidents. These 18-wheeler accidents | | | | injured. |
| often involve injuries or death. Most people would | | | | Injuries Take Many Forms In Semi Truck Accidents |
| argue that it's the trucking company's responsibility to | | | | A semi truck accident that involves an automobile, |
| make sure their semi trucks are operated and | | | | the drivers and passengers of the automobiles has |
| maintained in a safe manner. It's in the best interest | | | | the odds stacked against them. They can end up |
| of not only the company, but also the driver and his | | | | with a list of injuries often including head and skull |
| potential victim, should he be involved in a semi truck | | | | fractures, broken bones/ribs and burns that may |
| accident. An improperly maintained semi truck or | | | | result in scaring. Spinal cord injuries, neck and back |
| untrained driver is just an accident waiting to happen. | | | | injuries and other types of nerve damage are all too |
| Heavy Loads Lead To Dangerous Driving | | | | common and of course, unfortunately, wrongful |
| There has been a battle waged recently in six states | | | | death is all too often an outcome in a semi truck |
| within the trucking and shipping industry. The trucking | | | | accident. |
| companies want the weight of the semi trucks to be | | | | Just like automobile accidents, semi truck accidents |
| increased from the present levels of 80,000 pounds | | | | may be preventable. It takes the right training, |
| to 97,000 pounds. In addition, they want the legal | | | | maintenance, regulations and enforcement of these |
| length of the vehicles increased as well. Opponents | | | | regulations to reduce the number of semi truck |
| contend that heavier and longer semi trucks are | | | | accidents. |