The number of injuries and deaths suffered in large truck accidents has continued to decrease each year in the United States since 2007, according to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The costs of these accidents have also continued to decrease in recent years. This trend follows the overall decrease in all motor vehicle accidents, but decreases in truck and bus accident injuries and deaths have occurred more quickly than decreases in passenger vehicle accident injuries and deaths.
For instance, according to the FMCSA, in 2007, 4,822 people died in large truck accidents on U.S. roads, and approximately 101,000 were injured. By 2009, however, these numbers had dropped to 3,380 deaths and 74,000 injuries. The number of injuries and deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled also went down in these years, with 2009 having 0.123 accidents per 100 million, even though the total number of vehicle miles traveled did not increase dramatically.
Recent years have also seen a decrease in the costs associated with large truck and bus crashes. Approximately $65 billion was spent on the effects of commercial vehicle crashes in 2007, but by 2009, this number had decreased to $48 billion.
Large truck accidents are not common, but when they do occur, serious injuries can result. If you or someone you love has been involved in a truck crash, the experienced Missouri big rig accident attorneys at Page Law can help. For a free consultation, call us today at (314) 322-8515.
The Truckload Carriers’ Association recently presented Don Lacy, safety director at Prime, Inc., with its 2011 Safety Professional of the Year Award. Prime is a trucking company that operates nearly 4,000 trucks and employs nearly 5,000 drivers and is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. Lacy has worked in Prime’s safety division since 1996, when he took over the post of Director of Safety.
Since 1996, Prime’s truck accident ratios have declined from 0.80 to 0.57, a new record low that the company achieved in 2010. Lacy also works closely with the Truckload Carriers’ Association’s safety and security division, which includes presenting complex truck safety issues before the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) and other state and federal government agencies that deal with tractor-trailer safety issues.
The Safety Professional of the Year Award, also known as the Claire C. Casey Award, is given each year to a safety professional whose track record of improving safety for truck drivers and other motorists on the road is worthy of notice. The award is named for TCA safety professional Claire C. Casey, who founded the organization’s safety and security division before his death in 1989.
Most tractor-trailer drivers are professionals who take their work and their commitment to safety seriously. However, defective truck equipment or maintenance, poor weather, driver distraction, or road emergencies can all still play a role in causing Missouri truck accidents that leave motorists injured or killed. The experienced St. Louis truck accident attorneys at Page Law can help you untangle the causes of an accident and seek compensation from those whose negligence may have caused the crash. For a free and confidential consultation, call Page Law today at 314-322-8515.
Thousands of Americans are injured each year in collisions with large commercial trucks, and many of these accidents are caused by the truck driver’s negligence. Fortunately, there are ways to prove negligence in many tractor-trailer accident cases. Many trucks now are equipped with event data recorders, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Event data recorders (EDRs) are often referred to as black boxes, and are similar to those used in airplanes. The recorders vary from vehicle to vehicle, but in large trucks they can record data such as speed, sudden stops, time spent driving, tire pressure, following distance, seat belt usage, and more. This data can make it much easier to prove whether a truck driver was driving negligently at the time of an accident.
Many trucking accidents are caused by driver fatigue. Although drivers are only allowed to be on the roads for a certain length of time, many drivers often do not follow the law in order to make more money and deliveries. Truck drivers are required to keep records of their trip times in log books; however, it is easy for a truck driver to alter their log book in order to appear that they are following federal law. An event data recorder can also help prove that a truck driver was driving more hours than allowed under law. In order to take advantage of this information, a plaintiff must contact the trucking company as soon as possible after a Missouri truck accident to insure that the data recorder is available to be used as evidence in the case.
In complex truck accident cases in Missouri, it’s critical to obtain a skilled and knowledgeable St. Louis truck crash attorney. The lawyers at Page Law, LLC are very experienced in these types of accident cases. If you have been injured in a Missouri truck crash, contact us today at 314-322-8515 to learn more about your legal rights.
If you enjoyed reading our blog post, you should follow and like Page Law on Facebook.
Bad weather during the busiest travel season of the year resulted in two truck accidents in St. Louis, according to Fox2Now.com. On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the St. Louis area was experiencing heavy rains and limited visibility, which led to two separate traffic accidents that involved trucks.
The first St. Louis truck accident occurred before sunrise on I-64 when a pickup truck slid off the interstate and then crashed into a tree. Tragically, the 18-year-old driver was declared dead at a local hospital. Later that morning on I-44, a tractor-trailer skidded out of control, hitting the median, and then crossed all lanes of traffic. The truck finally struck a rock embankment and jackknifed. Fortunately, the truck driver suffered only minor injuries.
Over the busy Thanksgiving travel weekend, six people died on Missouri’s roads, in spite of an effort by Missouri state troopers to carefully monitor the interstates. Troopers participated in Operation CARE (Combine Accident Reduction Effort) in an attempt to help lessen the amount of Missouri traffic accidents over the busy travel weekend. As part of the effort, one Missouri trooper was stationed every 10 miles.
If you have been injured in a Missouri accident with a truck, you may have a claim against the truck driver or their trucking company. You could be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, damages to your vehicle, and more. To learn more about your legal rights, contact the St. Louis truck accident attorneys at Page Law, LLC at 1-314-488-2433 for a free consultation.
The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently released the results of its annual Safety Belt Usage by CMV Drivers Survey. Based on data collected in 2009, the survey revealed that 74 percent of commercial motor vehicle drivers are now wearing their safety belts regularly – a 9 percent rise from 2007. The survey examined the habits of 20,818 drivers of commercial trucks and buses who stopped at 217 different checkpoints throughout the United States.
The survey also found a number of interesting facts related to safety belt use. Truck drivers and other commercial drivers were 11 percent more likely to wear their safety belts and ensure passengers were wearing safety belts in states with primary safety belt laws. In these states, 78 percent of commercial drivers wore their safety belts, compared with only 67 percent of drivers in states without primary safety belt laws.
Also, 78 percent of drivers employed by regional or national trucking companies wore their safety belts, but only 64 percent of self-employed truck drivers did. Drivers in the western U.S. were most likely to wear their safety belts: 79 percent of them were buckled up, while in the Northeast only 64 percent of drivers went buckled.
Wearing a safety belt is one of the simplest things a driver of any vehicle can do in order to improve safety and reduce the chances of serious injury in a crash. Unfortunately, while seat belts can and do save lives, they cannot prevent all injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a collision with a large truck, please get in touch with a Missouri truck crash attorney at Page Law. Our experienced lawyers will examine the details of your case and help you hold negligent parties accountable. Call Page Law today at (314) 322-8515 for a free and confidential consultation.
More commercial bus and truck drivers are beginning to wear seatbelts, a recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows. According to a news report, 74 percent of commercial truck and bus drivers buckled up in 2009. Compared to that, only 65 percent used seatbelts in the year 2007.
This is obviously good news. Whether it is truck drivers or drivers of passenger vehicles, seatbelts save lives. This is a fact that has been proven by several studies conducted in this country. It is encouraging to know that more and more drivers, including truck drivers, are recognizing the importance of wearing seatbelts while driving. In Missouri alone, 70 percent of all fatal crashes involve drivers not wearing seatbelts. Also, 97 percent of all crashes where seatbelts are used do not result in deaths.
It is not only important for truck drivers to worry about their own safety, but also the safety of others on the roadway. Truckers should follow safe driving practices as well. The traveling public may still be in danger of enduring injury due to truck driver fatigue in Missouri , truckers who drive drunk or distracted, and truck drivers who do not maintain their vehicles properly. The sheer size and weight of commercial trucks can make them a serious hazard to smaller vehicles.
If you are involved in a truck collision, you would be well-advised to contact a St. Louis truck accident injury lawyer immediately to ensure your rights are protected. Truck accidents can result in catastrophic injuries that could leave a person disabled for life. It is important to get prompt medical attention as well as legal representation to make sure that your rights and best interests are protected. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, please contact an experienced St. Louis truck accident attorney at Page Law by calling (314) 322-8515. We always offer a free consultation and comprehensive evaluation of your claim.
Source:http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2010/3/19/Morecommercialtruckandbusdriversusedsafetybeltsin2009.aspx
Truck accidents can result in serious injuries such as brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones and other physical trauma. If you have been involved in a Missouri truck accident and if you have been injured, the first thing you need to do is receive medical attention. Once you receive medical attention, it is critical that you get an experienced Missouri big rig collision lawyer on your side so he or she can begin collecting important evidence before it disappears or becomes unavailable.
In order to determine liability in any truck accident case, evidence is important. It is vital to preserve all evidence at the scene. And to do that, you need the help of a qualified truck accident law firm that has the resources and immediate access to an accident reconstruction expert.
While investigating a truck accident, one of the first steps attorneys should take is to send a notice to the trucking company with a list of items that need to be preserved, such as the vehicle and driver logs which show how long the driver has been on the road. Another important item to obtain is the electronic control module, which contains critical information such as idle time and speed. Without this notice, trucking companies can and will get rid of the evidence.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in St. Louis, please contact an experienced and knowledgeable MO injury lawyer at Page Law as soon as possible. Our lawyers have years of experience investigating large truck accident cases. We have the resources to retain the most talented truck accident experts to get working on our cases right away. In these cases, beginning investigations in a timely manner is crucial. Call Page Law today at 866-620-5757 to discuss your truck accident case with an experienced lawyer and to obtain a free case evaluation.
A number of Missouri truck accidents occur each year because of negligent truck drivers. However, many accidents also occur because drivers of passenger vehicles are not careful around these large commercial trucks. Here are five safe and defensive driving tips you can use when you share the roadway with large trucks:
- Avoid staying in blind spots – Large vehicles have blind spots on both sides. Remember, if you can’t see the driver’s face in his side-view mirror, he cannot see you either.
- Do not tailgate – Trucks and buses have large “no-zones” directly behind them. Tailgating a large truck can be dangerous because the truck driver cannot see you behind them and you cannot see what’s going on in front. If the tractor-trailer in front of you brakes suddenly, you basically have no place to go.
- Avoid unsafe passes – Always look for the whole front of the truck or bus in your rear-view mirror before pulling in front. Remember that truck drivers need twice the time and space to stop as smaller vehicles.
- Yield right-of-way – Obey common rules of the road such as yielding when merging onto busy highways.
- Be vigilant – Never cross behind a truck that is backing up. Remember that truck drivers do not have a rear-view mirror and may not see you cutting in behind them.
If you believe that you have been seriously injured as a result of a truck driver’s negligence, get in touch with an experienced Missouri truck injury lawyer at Page Law to schedule your free and comprehensive consultation. If it is determined that the accident was the truck driver’s fault, you could seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy and other damages.
The federal government has issued a ban on texting while driving, especially targeted at commercial truck drivers and bus drivers. According to a news report in USA Today, the new restrictions will take effect immediately and apply to interstate truckers and operators of vehicles carrying at least eight passengers. Those who violate this new rule could face penalties of up to $2,750. So far, 19 states and the District of Columbia prohibit texting while driving for all drivers.
Distracted driving is one of the biggest traffic safety issues we have on our roadways today. It is unsafe for all drivers – whether they are driving a compact car or an 18-wheeler – to text or use a hand-held cell phone while driving. Recent studies show that those who text while driving, take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. A vehicle traveling at highway speed can traverse the length of two football fields within that time.
However, when drivers of large trucks and commercial buses text, they are putting many more lives in danger than just their own. When the driver of a large big rig takes his eyes off the road, it can result in catastrophic accidents that have the potential to cause major injuries or deaths. Federal officials have themselves admitted that this is a tough law to enforce. But, it is a good first step, especially considering the devastation that distracted truckers have brought on the traveling public.
If you have been the victim of a serious truck accident – whether it is due to a distracted, reckless or negligent driver – please contact a skilled Missouri big rig accident lawyer who will analyze your case thoroughly and make sure you secure fair compensation for your injuries and losses. Call Page Law today for a free consultation and comprehensive evaluation of your claim. We can help.
Source:http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-01-26-texting-driving-commercial-ban_N.htm
The State of Missouri enforced a texting ban for drivers in August. According to a recent news report, this texting ban may affect truckers as well. Truckers are being especially careful because they cross several state lines and the laws change as they do so. Apparently, most truck drivers have CB radios to get information about road conditions and closures. But some say that the information from the radios doesn’t come quick enough. So the newer and younger drivers are turning to their cell phones for information.
Distracted drivers cause a number of deadly accidents in Missouri. Truck drivers are no exception. In fact, when a truck driver is texting, checking e-mail on a handheld device or talking on the phone, he or she can create a lot more opportunities for truck accidents because a big rig is a much bigger, heavier vehicle. A driver certainly needs to have two hands on the wheel to maneuver a tractor trailer safely.
If a truck driver is texting or talking on the cell phone and causes an accident, then he or she, as well as his or her employer – the trucking company – may be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries or fatalities. The victims in such cases could seek compensation to cover their injuries, damages and loss. Not paying attention to the road while driving amounts to truck driver negligence in Missouri.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Missouri truck accident, please contact an experienced Missouri truck accident attorney at Page Law for a free consultation and evaluation of your truck accident claim. We will fight for your rights and make sure the negligent party responsible for causing the injuries or wrongful death is held accountable. Call Page Law today at 866-620-5757.
Source:http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=91855
