Semi Truck Accident
Semi Truck Accident Lawyers
The growth of our country in the past 50 years is in large part thanks to the trucking industry that blossomed following the establishment of the Federal Interstate System. However, the hundreds of thousands of semi-trailers on the road also pose a great risk to the families that rely on the same ribbons of asphalt to move to new jobs in new cities or take their children to popular theme parks and beaches. The low costs of goods in stores and the abundance of produce that may not be natural to a region can be attributed to the brave men and women who undertake grueling trips across the country to ensure a higher quality of living for all, but the pressures they face to meet shipment deadlines often create dangerous situations that place other drivers at risk of a serious trucking accident. .
Law designates that a vehicle used for commercial purposes that is in excess of 10,000 pounds (5 tons) is considered to be a “large truck”. The operation of these vehicles is significantly different from the automobiles that most individuals drive for their personal use, as the added weight and length of the trucks create difficulties in maneuvering that must be accounted and compensated for while operating the vehicle. In the event of a trucking accident, the extra weight of the semi-trailer usually leads to devastating damage for the other, usually smaller, personal automobiles involved.
There are strict laws in place that govern the operation of trucks. One of the greatest dangers of driving on the road is encountering fatigued drivers, and new federal law enacted in 2003 limits the amount of driving time truck operators can log on given days throughout a shipment, which was intended to prevent the buildup of accumulating fatigue. However, the trucking companies often push their drivers to the limit of these laws to ensure quick deliveries and greater profits, and often the drivers feel compelled or are encouraged to lie on their driving logs, which creates a dangerous environment of fatigue and pressure that can easily lead to driver error that could severely hurt or kill innocent motorists.
The truck accident attorneys at PERENICH The Law Firm represent victims of trucking accidents and their families when truck companies and their drivers have needlessly placed them in grave danger. If you are in need of a Tampa truck accident attorney, contact PERENICH The Law Firm today to speak to an experienced semi truck accident lawyer. Our truck accident attorneys have handled all types trucking accident cases over the years.
Fatigued truck drivers account for approximately 30% of all trucking accidents, and many times the fatigue was the result of unscrupulous trucking companies that encourage a culture of pressure that surrounds their drivers. Many drivers resort to taking legal prescription drugs to assist them in remaining aware, but many times the buildup of these drugs or even the slightest consumption of alcohol can have devastating effects to their alertness. In a study of trucking accidents in which the truck driver suffered fatal injuries, 67% of the sampled drivers were under the influence of either prescription drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash. Federal law restricts the use of many prescriptions while driving a large commercial vehicle, but many trucking companies look the other way instead of promoting safe working conditions for their drivers.
On many roads, trucks are required to adhere to a lower posted speed limit. A truck travelling at 70 miles per hour has nearly twice the energy through momentum than a truck travelling at 50 miles per hour, and driving at high speeds, whether legally or over the speed limits, creates many possibilities of risk and danger to both the driver of the truck and the countless families and commuters that drive alongside these trucks every day. All trucks are required to undergo regular safety inspections, and many times necessary repairs to brakes and vital engine parts are put off for far too long as schedules must be kept and safety takes a back seat to profit.
Truck drivers are key figures in the prosperity and growth of our great country, but when trucking companies place profits and quick shipment at the expense of hundreds of lives that are lost each year, the millions of families across the nation that use our wonderful roads are placed in danger on a daily basis, and our society should find that unacceptable.
Our experienced Tampa Bay truck accident attorneys can assist you and your family when a day’s travel is turned into a nightmare. A semi truck accident lawyer at PERENICH The Law Firm has the experience, knowledge, and resources to fully investigate the cause of the crash, determine fault, and pursue a fair and just recovery for damages. In many cases, a semi-truck accident lawyer will find the trucking companies that own the truck involved in the accident may be liable for violations of safety standards and fatigue laws. It is important that you contact a Tampa truck accident attorney very soon after an accident to protect your rights and ensure that the neglectful parties are held accountable.
Traveling across our beautiful nation should not be hindered by fear of dangerous and potentially deadly trucks that are operated in unsafe manners. Safety should never be sacrificed for profit. If the implementation of safe practices results in higher costs in goods we consume, it is more than worth it to protect and save the lives of hundreds of fathers, mothers, children, and working commuters who take to the same roads.
Contact PERENICH The Law Firm today to speak with a Tampa Truck Accident Attorney!