Each year in the United States of America , federal and state governments spend millions of dollars in tax payers’ money in order to improve upon and construction new infrastructure, which includes countless American roadways. America is home to some of the most well known and scenic drives in the world. Ironically however, it’s on these very picturesque and well maintained roads that some of the nation’s most fatal and tragic car accidents involving semi trucks occur.
Nowadays, driving out on the open road is more dangerous than ever before, most likely because drivers are distracted now than they’ve ever been. Between cars with wireless internet capability, built in entertainment systems, and the use of mobile phones and cellular devices, drivers have a lot competing with for their attention when it comes to keeping their eyes and their mind on the road. Add to that the fact that people are driver faster than ever, and it’s easy to see how all this fast, furious, reckless, and distracted driving is a recipe for tragic accidents.
But the drivers of passenger vehicles aren’t all to blame. In fact, they’re only a small part of the problem. Over worked, over stressed, and over tired semi and tractor trailer drivers are also a larger part of the problem. That statistics are quite startling. For example, you may not have known that one in every eight car accident fatalities involves a large freight vehicle such as a tractor, big rig, or semi truck? Furthermore, you may not have known that nearly 4% of call injuries caused by car accidents and crashes are caused by the same kind of large freight liners?
Due to their sheer size and large mass, big rigs such as large freight carriers, semi trucks, and trailers cause a lot more damage to structures, other vehicles, and most importantly people than passenger vehicles and small cars. Statistics from car accidents involving big rigs and passenger vehicles reveal that a staggering 86% of deaths and 77% of those injured are the drivers and passengers of the smaller vehicles that were involved in the accident itself.
What drivers can do to protect themselves and their loved ones
All of these facts and figures can be startling and it’s easy to see why drivers would be wary big rigs and freight carriers. The best thing drivers can do to protect themselves and their loved ones is to become familiar with semi truck accident lawyers in their immediate area. Even if you haven’t been in an accident — as especially if you have been — having at least a few semi truck accident lawyers in mind in the unfortunate case you are in accident can save precious time in terms of filing a lawsuit.
Semi truck accident lawyers are similar to personal injury lawyers in that they both practice personal injury law. The difference however lies in the fact that sole focus of semi truck accident lawyers is representing clients that have been in a car accident involving a big rig or a semi truck. Semi truck accident lawyers are often successful in helping their clients receive considerable personal injury lawsuit settlements for all the pain and suffering they endured due to the negligence of a semi truck driver.
However personal injury settlement time frames are often very tight and extremely time sensitive. This is exactly where knowing of a semi truck accident lawyer ahead of time can become a true advantage. This can save you or a loved one critical time and ensure you’re doing everything in a manner that’s more likely to yield a positive outcome in your favor.
For example, without a lawyer’s expert advice, you may decide to put off seeing a medical professional or you may forget to disclose to the medical professional treating you that you were involved in a big rig accident. These may seem like fairly innocent mistakes but when it comes to big rig accidents and filing a personal injury claim, they could be devastating in terms of an outcome that’s in your favor. Always err on the side of caution for certainty!
