Reputable Louisville Truck Accident Attorney Ready To Help You
The amount of force involved in a truck accident is great enough to seriously injure, or even kill those involved. Weighing in at between 4,000 and 6,000 pounds, the average truck can be lethal, especially when colliding with another object at high speeds. This level of damage is nothing, however, compared to the damage that can be sustained in a collision with a commercial truck. When an accident happens with some this large, you need an experienced and proven Louisville truck accident lawyer on your side.
Every year, approximately 5,000 people die in the United States in trucking accidents, and many more people are involved in tractor-trailer wrecks. The vast majority of those injured or killed in trucking accidents are not truck drivers. A breakdown of recent data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that truck crashes disproportionately injure or kill passenger vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. One major cause of semi accidents is the trucks’ weight. A loaded commercial 18-wheeler can weigh up to an incredible 80,000 pounds. In addition, tractor-trailers are larger and are higher off of the ground than other motor vehicles – which are two issues that make them even more deadly on the road. It is not surprising that commercial truck accidents result in more serious injuries and fatalities than vehicle accidents that don’t involve a truck.
If you have been seriously injured in a Louisville, KY tractor-trailer accident, or if your loved one has been killed in an 18-wheeler accident, you deserve to be fairly compensated in a manner that allows for a full or maximum recovery – and by all responsible parties. Our dedicated Louisville commercial truck accident lawyer at Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC is committed to giving each of our clients the customized attention that they both deserve and need, and to make sure that the trucking industry is held responsible after cases of negligence. Request a free and private case review by our Louisville truck accident attorney.
Contact Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC today online, or by calling us directly.
An Industry That Puts Profits Above People
While we wish that we could tell you that all trucking collisions are the rare result of freak accidents and unavoidable occurrences, this is simply not often the case. A significant amount of the time, semi-truck accidents are the result of a negligent trucking company, poor federal trucking regulations, and stressed, distracted, or reckless drivers.
In 2015, there were 87,000 injuries and 4,050 fatalities associated with trucking accidents in the United States – comprising more than ten percent of all annual motor vehicle fatalities. This is a big problem, and the industry needs to be held accountable. Our Louisville truck accident attorney is here to help you fight for your justice.
In the trucking industry, many commercial transportation companies will cut any corners that they can in order to increase their profits. That may mean that they engage in the following dangerous activities:
- Not properly vetting their drivers during the hiring process.
- Not properly training their drivers.
- Not properly supervising their drivers.
- Not testing their drivers for illegal substances.
- Encouraging their drivers to break federal trucking regulations.
- Encouraging their drivers to do whatever it takes to deliver loads more quickly.
- Not properly maintaining their vehicles.
- Not properly loading their vehicles.
- Not properly addressing the issue of distracted driving.
- Not properly addressing the issue of fatigued driving.
As a proven and experienced Louisville commercial truck accident attorney, I understand the possible dangerous activities that can lead to accidents.
Contact Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC today online, or by calling us directly.
Types of Trucking Accidents
A crash that involves a semis and trucks can happen in a matter of seconds. Recovery from severe injuries suffered by occupants of a passenger vehicle, on the other hand, can take months and years. Semis and trucks are involved in many types of devastating crashes. Some examples include:
- A truck rear-ending a vehicle in front of it;
- Head-on collisions and impacts;
- Intersecting vehicles;
- Trucks running off the road;
- A truck swerving out of its lane;
- A truck turning into another vehicle’s path;
- Trucks rolling over;
- A truck sideswiping another car, truck, motorcycle, or bicycle; and
- Trucks hitting objects in the road.
Possible Causes of Trucking Accidents in Louisville, KY
Figuring out what caused the trucking accident is an important first step. There are many reasons for a large number of trucking accidents. Possible causes of a truck crash may include:
- Speeding;
- Failing to observe traffic law, rules, and regulations;
- Drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs;
- Tailgating;
- Driving in the wrong lane;
- Running red lights;
- Forcing other vehicles off the road;
- Driver inattention;
- Trucks changing lanes without using a turn signal; and
- Improper truck maintenance;
- Driver fatigue.
Contact Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC today online, or by calling us directly.
Proving Truck Driver Fatigue as the Cause Of Accident
It is never easy to uncover negligence because another driver will rarely admit to having a few drinks or being on the cellphone. A blood test, however, can detect if a prescription drug or alcohol-impaired the driver. Records stored with a cell carrier may prove that texting distracted a driver. However, fatigue can be much more difficult to prove.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates how long commercial truck drivers can remain behind the wheel in a given week. The rules apply to vehicles over 10,001 pounds, as well as those that transport paying passengers. In 2013, the agency updated its hours-of-service rule limiting the workweek to 70 hours for big rig drivers. Truck drivers can only be behind the wheel for 11 hours in one day and need to take a 30-minute break within the first eight hours of their shifts. Another change required that drivers who hit 70 hours rest for 34 hours including two overnight (1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.) periods before starting a new workweek.
Even with trucking regulations that many believe still allow for fatigued driving, evidence shows that many truckers do not even follow these regulations, faking their log books or driving during rest periods with the tacit approval of their employers. Fatigued driving accidents can occur both because a trucker falls asleep behind the wheel and because a tired driver may be distracted or slow to react to a hazard.
If you believe that your collision with a commercial truck or 18-wheeler involved fatigued driving, it is imperative that your 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer collects all evidence that could illustrate the facts, including driving logs, pick up and drop off schedules, and witness testimony. This evidence could not only establish that a driver was tired, but also that the trucking company knew about the driver’s state (or should have known about the driver’s state).
Logbooks and Liability
In the past, drivers could fudge how long they were behind the wheel with paper logbooks. However, more companies have installed electronic logging devices on their vehicles.
The FMCSA is in the process of developing a rule that will establish minimum standards for electronic logging devices and mandatory use requirements. Electronic logs eliminate wiggle room for drivers. They also might show that a driver was in violation of the hours-of-service rule at the time of a crash.
A driver, along with his or her company, may receive fines for violating the HOS rule. A review of driving logs is a way to show fatigue. Even if the driver was technically not in violation of the rules, if the accident happened after 10 and a half hours behind the wheel, it might point to a sleepy driver. If a company pushed drivers to break rules to make deadlines, the company could also be vicariously liable.
Following a serious injury in a trucking accident, speak with an injury lawyer at Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC to discuss available remedies. An investigation may uncover that the negligence of another driver caused the crash. Hiring a trusted Louisville truck accident lawyer allows you to focus on recovery and rest assured of a fair settlement.
Contact Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC today online, or by calling us directly.
Inadequate Maintenance By Trucking Companies
Commercial tractor-trailer trucks and semis require more maintenance and regular maintenance than most other vehicles on the road. This is because of the trucks’ size, weight, and mileage: Many trucks criss-cross the United States on long hauls over and over again, pulling as many as 80,000 pounds behind them. Working that hard, it is no surprise that truck parts wear out quickly, and that truck drivers and trucking companies need to regularly maintain their vehicles.
Because truck maintenance can be both expensive and time-consuming, far too many commercial truck owners and operators fail to regularly maintain their tractor-trailers. This can lead to serious failures of equipment, and serious accidents and injuries.
Truck Maintenance & Federal Trucking Regulations
Under federal law, trucking companies must follow a specific set of guidelines regarding maintenance and repair. These laws include the following stipulations outlined by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA):
- All trucking companies “…must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain, or cause to be systematically inspected, repaired, and maintained all motor vehicles.”
- Parts and accessories of each truck shall be in safe and proper operating condition at all times, including but not limited to “frame and frame assemblies, suspension systems, axles and attaching parts, wheels and rims, and steering systems.”
- Trucking companies must maintain records for each motor vehicle they control that include: An identification of the vehicle; a means to indicate the nature and due date of the various inspection and maintenance operations to be performed; and a record of inspection, repairs, and maintenance indicating their date and nature. These records must be maintained and retained for 18 months after the vehicle leaves the company’s control.
When investigating your Kentucky truck accident claim, it is vital to find out if any of these federal regulations have been violated. In addition, it is vital to review the vehicle’s records of maintenance and repairs to shed light on the cause of the accident. An inadequate maintenance trucking accident attorney can help you acquire and analyze these documents.
The trucking company may be held liable for your accident and injuries if:
- The truck did not undergo regular maintenance.
- The truck was not regularly inspected.
- The truck did not undergo the proper repairs.
- The truck’s parts and accessories were not kept in safe and working order.
- The trucking company did not keep proper maintenance records.
The Consequences of Improper Maintenance or Inspections
Driving a truck that has not been properly inspected or maintained is extremely dangerous. The failure of any auto part or accessory can cause the entire vehicle to lose control, leave its lane, rollover, or even catch fire. Inadequate maintenance can both directly cause commercial truck accidents, or make the outcome of commercial truck accidents more serious. Specifically, improper maintenance can result in the following dangerous issues:
- Tire blowouts.
- Failed breaks.
- Failed steering mechanism.
- Detached trailers.
- Failed brake lights and turn signals.
The following truck parts and accessories should be inspected regularly:
- Brakes (hydraulic brakes, air brakes, brake connectors, and parking brake)
- Coupling devices
- Tires, wheels, and rims
- Lights (headlights, brake lights, turn signals)
- Suspension system
- Axels
- Cab and frame
- Trailer
- Steering mechanism
- Windshield wipers
- Mirrors
Commercial truck accidents that involve the violation of federal regulations and improper vehicle maintenance can be complex and confusing. If you believe that you have been involved in such an accident, it is imperative that you speak with a knowledgeable inadequate maintenance trucking accident attorney in Kentucky about the details of your possible claim. You may be owed compensation for:
- Your related medical bills, including future medical bills.
- Your lost wages, including possible future lost wages.
- Your related out-of-pocket expenses.
- Your pain and suffering.
- Your damaged property.
Let Us Help Your Recovery Process
Our highly-skilled Louisville truck accident attorney is dedicated to holding the trucking industry accountable for their negligence, one truck accident case at a time. Working with 18-wheeler accident victims and their families one-on-one to gain compensation and justice from trucking companies is what we do best, and we want to help you next.
We leave other firms to handle class action lawsuits, mass recalls, and high-volume legal cases. We are here to help real people find real solutions in the wake of an accident that affects their lives and their families. Our Louisville truck accident lawyer’s experience, knowledge, and passion can help give you an edge in pursuing compensation for your accident injuries, starting today. Strict state filing deadlines mean that the time to act is now. Fill out our online contact form or call us at (502) 791-9000 and speak with a proven and dedicated truck accident attorney in Louisville, KY. Get started now.
