The Kentucky State Police releases an annual report on Traffic Collision Facts. The most recent data indicates there were over 9000 trucking accidents in Kentucky. While trucks and cars have improved in safety over the years, there were still about 90 fatalities from these accidents.
Semi-tractor trailers and 18-wheelers have the potential for dangerous collisions mainly due to their size, and trucks continue to get larger for cost-effectiveness. The average car or SUV weighs about 4,000 pounds. A truck is defined as a vehicle with a registered weight of 10,000; semi-tractor trailers have a maximum weight of 80,000 pounds.
What are the Causes of Trucking Accidents in Kentucky?
The Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts find that the following factors were involved in trucking accidents in Kentucky:
Many other factors contribute to the high incidence of trucking collisions:
- Truck driver fatigue
- Truck driver inexperience
- Aggressive driving and speeding
- Drug or alcohol use by the truck driver
- Driving in inclement weather
- Unsafe under-ride equipment
- Excessive work shifts and shipment deadlines
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Ignoring traffic control
- Talking on a cell phone and texting
When factors such as these contribute to an accident and injuries or fatalities occur, the truck drivers and the trucking companies are liable for the damages incurred by the other vehicle’s occupants
What Should I Do if I’m Involved in a Trucking Accident?
If you are in an accident, call 911 immediately. Leave your car as close to the scene of the accident as you can, but get yourself to a safe space out of traffic. Your health is the most important thing to think about, but if you can, make sure to exchange insurance information with the drivers involved in the collision and document the scene of the accident - take pictures and get witness contact information. Once the police come to the scene, give them a synopsis of the accident but do not admit any fault. Most importantly, seek medical attention. It is best to see a medical doctor for any kind of treatment. After securing medical help, you should contact an attorney who has experience in trucking accidents. It is best to have your attorney talk to your insurance company and the insurance company that represents the adverse driver.
It is important that victims of trucking accidents immediately protect their legal rights. Trucking companies are well versed in how to minimize their company’s liability after an accident has occurred. These companies want to settle cases quickly and on their own terms. Therefore, it is critical that victims or the victim’s family understand their legal rights.
Attorney Brett H. Oppenheimer in Louisville, Kentucky has been representing people who have been injured in truck accidents and their survivors since 1991. You can contact Brett at (502)242-8877 or by email, at brett@bluegrassinjury.com, to discuss the specifics of your case.