According to the The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “tires” were the most common vehicle-related factor for large trucks in fatal crashes. From 2018-2020, there were around 559 deaths due to a “large truck’s loss of control” from a blown out or flat tire. Truck industry observers and insiders agree that defective tires, coupled with speeding, is a leading cause of fatal truck accidents.
The NHTSA recently concluded its investigation into a number of tire blowouts. In the report, they determined that most semi-truck tires can withstand a sustained speed of 75 mph maximum; however, due to the strict time requirements many truck drivers try to meet, they may exceed this threshold. This causes undue stress on tires which in turn weakens them and makes them more prone to blow out, often on the highway surrounded by multiple innocent drivers and their smaller vehicles.
Speeding is a contributing factor for almost one out of every five fatal truck crashes. The NHTSA also found that road debris, overloaded rigs, and under-inflation contributed to tire damage, leading to catastrophic accidents.The unfortunate reality of many semi-truck accidents is that most of them could’ve been avoided.
In addition to truck tire blowouts and speeding, there may be multiple other negligent reasons and parties that caused the truck to hit you or a family member. These include:
- Distracted driving
- Driver negligence
- Aggressive driving due to trying to meeting strict deadlines
- Violation of safety regulations and hours of service limitations
- Speeding and other traffic law violations
- Drug and/or alcohol abuse
- Overloading the trailer
- Failing to balance or secure the load
- Manufacturing defects
- Equipment failure of all kinds – nonworking brakes, an axle break, a stuck accelerator
Because trucking companies go on the defensive immediately following an accident, it is essential to establish the facts of an accident scene as quickly as possible to determine liability. In truck wreck cases, our personal injury lawyers take action as soon as our help is requested. The evidence must be preserved immediately, and the trucking company needs to be put on notice to not compromise the evidence in any way. No matter the cause of a truck accident, those responsible must be held accountable for their negligence. If you or a family member were catastrophically injured in an accident, consult with one of our truck accident attorneys in St. Louis.
When it comes to truck accidents, an attorney needs special legal know-how and dedication to successfully handle these claims. Accidents involving trucks often leave victims with substantial medical bills and life-altering injuries or death. Taking on a large trucking company can be intimidating, especially when you’re already experiencing financial stress. An experienced truck accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation for associated damages, whether for pain and suffering, past and present medical bills, past and future lost wages, property damage, or wrongful death.
At Sumner Law Group, LLC – truck accident lawyer Their St. Louis trucking accident attorneys have helped victims locally and nationwide receive millions in compensation by taking on the large trucking companies and holding them liable for accidents they’ve caused.
