The Dangers of 18-Wheeler Truck Accidents
All auto accidents have the capacity to be dangerous and claim innocent lives; however, none are as inherently dangerous as accidents involving 18-wheelers and other large commercial trucks. When passengers of cars, pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs, not to mention motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians, collide with large trucks, the trucker is far less likely to be killed. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 2,485 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in collisions with large trucks in 2014, accounting for 68 percent of the overall deaths in these collisions, while 531 motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians were killed, accounting for another 15 percent. By contrast, 587 large truck occupants were killed, accounting for just 16 percent of the overall deaths. Even more telling, 72 percent of the large truck accidents that resulted in deaths in 2014 involved 18-wheelers and other tractor-trailer big rigs, while only 28 percent involved single-unit large trucks. Tragically, many of these accidents could have been prevented if not for the negligence of the truck drivers or the trucking companies that simply pushed their employees past the limits of the law in the name of making a profit. When it comes to handling claims arising from 18-wheeler truck accidents, the Provo, UT personal injury attorneys of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton have the resources, skills, and experience to win even the most complex cases. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a collision with a large commercial truck, or if you have tragically lost a member of your family in such an accident, we urge you to arrange for an evaluation of your trucking accident case today. Proving Negligence in 18-wheeler Truck Accident Cases In order to obtain compensation for the losses and expenses you have sustained due to your trucking accident-related injuries, it is necessary for our attorneys to provide evidence showing that the truck driver, the trucking company, or both caused the accident through their negligence and therefore are financially liable. To prove negligence, our attorneys must demonstrate that the trucker, trucking company, or both: Owed you a duty of care; Through their actions or inactions, failed to fulfill that duty; As a result of this failure, were either wholly or mostly at fault for the accident in which you were injured, and your injuries were indeed caused by this accident; Should therefore be held financially liable, to the degree that they were at fault for the accident, for the losses and expenses resulting from your injuries. Properly identifying which party or parties are responsible for the truck accident is essential to a successful personal injury lawsuit. In some cases, neither the trucker or trucking company is responsible, but rather the designer or manufacturer – or both – of a defective automotive part. Our personal injury attorneys will take definitive action against the liable party only after making absolutely certain that we have explored every angle of the case. Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm Today To arrange an evaluation of your 18-wheeler truck accident case, please contact the law firm of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton today.
Auto Accidents and Senior Drivers
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute, approximately 23.6 million of the estimated 30.1 million Americans aged 70 and older were licensed drivers in 2013. This means that, at that time, elderly drivers comprised about 11 percent of the drivers in the United States. Does this make drivers of other ages more vulnerable to auto accidents, or are our roadways just as safe when we share them with drivers in their golden years? At the law firm of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton, we handle auto accident cases of all types, including those involving auto accidents and seniors. While our Provo, UT personal injury attorneys acknowledge that there are many senior drivers out there who operate their vehicles perfectly safely, we have the skills, tenacity, and experience to take legal action against any driver whose negligence causes injuries to innocent drivers and passengers. If you or a member of your family has been seriously injured in an auto accident caused by a senior driver, or if you have lost a family member in such an accident, our personal injury lawyers can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Please contact our law firm to arrange for an evaluation of your auto accident case today. About Auto Accidents and Older Drivers Many older drivers are vigilant and cautious, with a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw upon. However, some of these older drivers struggle with diminished abilities due to: Vision problems that cannot be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. Problems with memory, reasoning, or judgment. Arthritis or loss of muscle strength. Prescription medications and their side effects. Yet, at present, there are no laws requiring that drivers be retested at a certain age in order to keep their driver’s licenses. Likewise, the state of Utah, unlike some other states, has not imposed a shorter license renewal cycle for drivers of a certain age (the current renewal cycle is five years for all drivers, regardless of age). Calls to adapt such laws have been controversial, and perhaps rightfully so. Nevertheless, it is important that as our loved ones age, we recognize the signs of diminished abilities to drive and take action to protect them – and those who share the roadways with them – by asking them for their keys when the time comes. It may not be an easy conversation, but it could end up saving lives. A study conducted by AAA/Carnegie Mellon showed that fatality rates rise significantly among drivers after they pass the age of 65. Drivers between the age of 75 and 84 have a fatality rate similar to teenaged drivers. The fatality rate among drivers above the age of 84 is approximately four times that of teenaged drivers. Arrange an Evaluation of Your Auto Accident Case If you or someone you love has been injured in an auto accident caused by a senior driver, or if you have lost a member of your family in such an accident, we urge you to contact our personal injury law firm today to arrange for an evaluation of your case.
The Ten Most Common Causes of Large Truck Accidents
At Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton, our personal injury attorneys have the experience and resources to handle the full range of auto accident cases with success. We have particular skills in handling cases involving tractor-trailers and other large commercial trucks. By virtue of their sheer size, weight, and difficulty to maneuver, these trucks are among the most inherently dangerous on our nation’s roadways. When they are involved in collisions with smaller motor vehicles such as cars, pickup trucks, motorcycles, and SUVs, the occupants of the latter vehicles are at extremely high risk of catastrophic injury or death. What causes thousands of truck accidents that occur each year? Thanks to a study published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in 2007, “The Large Truck Causation Study,” we don’t have to guess at the ten most common trucking accident causes. Our Provo, UT personal injury attorneys invite you to read the following summation of the top ten causes of trucking accidents in the United States and then contact our law firm if you require an evaluation of a truck accident case. What Are the Ten Most Common Causes of Large Truck Accidents? According to “The Large Truck Causation Study,” published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the ten most common causes of large truck accidents are, from most common to least common: Drug use, whether of prescription or illegal drugs: 26 percent of all crashes Speeding: 23 percent Unfamiliarity with the route: 22 percent Influence of over-the-counter medications: 18 percent Failure to check blind spots properly: 14 percent Driver fatigue: 13 percent Failure to observe legally mandated safety measures such as signaling turns: 9 percent Driver distraction: 8 percent Inability to avoid crashes due to inability to properly estimate the level of evasive action needed: 7 percent Road rage: 7 percent Observant readers will notice that the above percentages add up to more than 100. This is because more than one cause can contribute to a single accident, of course. For instance, drug use and speeding commonly go hand in hand. Many people might be surprised to learn that driver fatigue, which was long assumed to be the most common cause of large truck accidents, is now the sixth most common cause. They might be equally surprised to learn that road rage, often thought of as a behavior engaged in mainly by operators of passenger vehicles, is a common cause of large truck accidents. To be certain, the list shows that truck drivers, despite their training and presumed experience, are prone to the same imperfections and faults as other drivers. While most truckers are excellent drivers who operate their vehicles with extreme care and caution, it is imperative that we all keep our eyes open at all times when we are on the road. Contact the Law Firm of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton Today To arrange an evaluation of your trucking accident case, please contact the personal injury law firm of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton today.