Big Rig and Semi Accident Causes

Big rig and semi accidents occur quite often on the roads all across the country these days, resulting in serious injuries and sometimes even death. These accidents are caused by multiple factors, which can be blamed on the driver, the truck manufacturer, the trucking company, the weather or the other driver involved in the accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) releases data each year regarding roadway accidents. The NHTSA claims that big rigs and semis are only involved in 3 percent of all auto accidents each year but these trucks are also responsible for 5,000 fatalities and 130,000 injuries each year.

Causes of Big Rig and Semi Accidents

The list below includes all of the known big rig accident cause on the roadways today:

• Inclement weather
• Construction zones
• Driving while intoxicated
• Fatigue
• Faulty equipment
• Improper loading and tie downs
• Talking on the cell phone
• Animals
• Driver distractions
• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Runaway trailers
• Overloading trucks
• Worn or rusted parts
• Brakes not working properly
• Driver error

Liability and Damages

Liability and damages are different when it comes to a big rig and semi accident then liability and damages in a motor vehicle accident. The majority of damage involved in a big rig accident is typically done to the tiny motor vehicle involved in the crash and not the truck because the truck is 40 times heavier than the vehicle. Liability in a big rig or semi accident case includes not only the driver of the truck but also the trucking company itself. The majority of truck accident cases, when it comes to liability, deal with negligence. The defendant is considered negligent if he or she did not exercise reasonable care under the circumstances and the plaintiff’s injuries were caused by that negligence. The plaintiff in a big rig or semi accident case must prove the following to win the case:

• The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty to exercise reasonable degree of care to avoid injury, which is typically easy to meet, because all drivers have this responsibility towards one another.
• The defendant failed to honor this duty to the plaintiff or breached the duty of reasonable care.
• The cause of the injury to the plaintiff is a result of the defendant’s failure to exercise reasonable care while operating their vehicle.

Compensation for Injuries Incurred

Victims of big rig and semi truck accidents can acquire compensation for one or more of the following:

• Medical bills
• Hospital bills
• Loss of consortium
• Damages incurred
• Loss of wages
• Future loss of wages
• Repair costs
• Legal fees
• Court fees
• Punitive damages

Obtaining Legal Help

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a big rig or semi truck accident, contact a truck accident attorney immediately. A commercial truck accident attorney will be able to acquire the evidence needed for the plaintiff’s case and submit the lawsuit with the proper court. The attorney will also make the lawsuit process easier on the plaintiff, who might be battling injuries or still be in the hospital.