Careless or reckless truck drivers and unsafe vehicles:
A truck is a complex machine, or, more accurately, a complex group of systems operating at the same time. It does not matter how careful the truck driver is, if the equipment is faulty. It may not seem like a big deal if a light bulb burns out or a windshield wiper is old and ineffective; but when those problems occur on a tractor trailer, 18-wheeler, or big rig, it can make the difference between a safe vehicle and a dangerous condition.
On a huge commercial vehicle, if one of the parts malfunctions or breaks down, the result can be catastrophic. This is why truck drivers are legally required to keep up with routine inspections and maintenance. And this is why they are prohibited from driving when they do not.
And because tractor trailers and 18-wheelers are so huge and complex, drivers must also obey the extra safety rules of the road to ensure they don’t put themselves and other drivers at risk. This is why truckers must be trained in order to be licensed, must obey strict rules about how many hours they can drive, and must be routinely be tested for alcohol and drug abuse. When drivers of big rigs and semis are careless, distracted, sleepy, intoxicated, or inexperienced, they pose a great danger to everyone on the roads. And a dangerous driver of a commercial vehicle can cause accidents with devastating results.
Truck drivers and trucking corporations know this; and the laws of our country are put in place to regulate these drivers and companies to prevent such accidents. Yet most major commercial vehicle accidents are caused by the negligence of the driver, the trucking company he or she works for, or a combination of both. Often, accidents are caused by:
- Driver fatigue
- Driver intoxication
- Untrained or inexperienced drivers
- Unsafe vehicles
When an accident is caused by a driver’s careless disregard for a malfunctioning part, it is inexcusable. The cost of a burnt-out bulb cannot compare to the worth of a person’s life. And no one should be injured because a driver hauling 30,000 pounds of toxic chemicals had a few beers before hitting the road or was texting while driving.
When you are facing injuries, loss, disability, medical bills, time away from work, worry about your future, strain on your family, and the other myriad damages from a major accident, you need an experienced attorney to work to protect your rights. At NB&W, we have over 100 years of combined experience in representing clients who were hurt in these sorts of accidents. Contact us and tell us what happened; we are here to listen and answer your questions. We want our roads to be safe for your families and ours. So help us help you start to recover; help us help make our community safer.