Rear-End Semi Truck Accident Claims
All truck accidents have the potential to cause devastating injuries, even when they occur at relatively low speeds, a fact that can be attributed at least in part to the large size of the semi-trucks themselves. There are, however, certain types of accidents between semi-trucks and passenger vehicles that tend to have particularly serious consequences. Rear-end collisions, for instance, tend to be especially dangerous, causing major damage to the rear ended vehicle and potentially deadly injuries to its occupants. For help seeking compensation for your own rear-end accident-related injuries, please contact an experienced Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer who is well-versed in state law and can ensure that your legal interests are protected.
Why are Rear-End Truck Accidents so Severe?
The severity of a rear-end collision involving a semi-truck depends in large part on how heavy the truck was and how fast it was traveling prior to the collision. In fact, it is primarily the size of semi-trucks that make it so hard for drivers to avoid these types of collisions, as it is both harder to maneuver and more difficult to slow these large vehicles. Even when trucks are not loaded, they are usually heavier and larger than most other vehicles on the road, so being loaded with cargo only adds to the weight of the truck, making it much more likely that any resulting collisions will involve a significant amount of damage. Poorly lit roadways, defective taillights, faulty brakes, and intoxication have also been linked to thousands of rear-end truck accidents, many of which were fatal to the occupants of the smaller passenger vehicle.
Federal Regulations
Regardless of the cause of the accident, rear-end collisions tend to cause a significant amount of damage and physical injury when large commercial trucks are involved. For this reason, semi-trucks are subject to higher minimum insurance requirements for liability coverage, while drivers and trucking companies are required to comply with a series of strict safety regulations regarding mileage and hour limits, drug testing, and regular vehicle maintenance. For instance, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires drivers to log their hours on tamper-proof electronic logging devices that transmit data about a driver’s hours and mileage directly to the agency.
Unfortunately, despite the existence of these regulations, rear-end collisions continue to occur at an increasingly high rate, and although safety advocates have recommended the use of automatic braking systems and crash avoidance software by trucking companies for decades, the FMCSA has yet to require the use of these safety measures.
Find Out How a Dedicated Truck Accident Attorney Can Help You
Rear-end truck accidents can have devastating consequences ranging from serious injury to permanent disability and death. Collecting compensation is often the only way for injured parties to recover from this type of traumatic event, so if you were injured in a rear-end collision with a commercial vehicle, please call one of the experienced truck accident lawyers at Boone & Davis to find out more about your legal options. You can reach our office by calling 954-566-9919 or via online message.
Resource:
kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article217849815.html
https://www.booneanddavislaw.com/what-causes-semi-truck-accidents/
