As interest rates continue to rise with inflation, people are constantly on the hunt for the best deals with their limited dollars, and online shopping is where the best deals are to be had. This means the need for semi trucks and delivery trucks to keep up with demand is also increasing.
These trucks are what keeps America’s supply chain operating smoothly and, year after year, more trucks are needed to help keep the shelves stocked at your local grocery store. The steady increase in trucking demand also means more accidents on the road. But how many accidents are caused by semi trucks? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) the number of truck accidents per year involving fatalities is 5,601, a number that continues to rise with a 13% increase from 2020 to 2021.
With more than 15 fatal heavy truck accidents happening every day across the United States, there is a good chance that you or someone you love could be severely impacted by the decisions of a driver that either wasn’t paying attention, wasn’t properly trained or driving a truck that was unsafe for the road. Regardless of how the accident happens, it’s important to call a qualified lawyer, like Avrek Law, to help you get the justice you deserve.
How Common are Semi Truck Accidents?
Considering that a typical semi truck can weigh upwards of 10,000 pounds or more, any accident involving a semi truck is likely going to cause serious injury or even death. In total, the NHTSA says an estimated 538,000 large trucks were involved in police-reported traffic crashes nationwide in 2019 alone.
When you look at California traffic statistics, the numbers aren’t any less staggering. The Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), reported a total of 147,292 traffic accidents in 2020. According to the NHTSA, in 2019, California had the second highest total number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes with 5,029, representing nearly 8% of the total accidents across the United States.
But what are the odds that a delivery driver in a UPS truck hit my car? Pretty good. In 2019, UPS had 121,929 trucks in operation racking up more than 3 billion miles that also caused 2,627 crashes, 948 injuries and 55 fatalities. What should you do if you become another statistic? Either during the accident or immediately after, you’ll want to try and collect as much information from the driver as possible to help strengthen your case.
Can I Sue UPS for Negligence?
Anytime you’re hit by a driver employed by a courier company, or any type of company operating large trucks, it’s best to consult with a lawyer about what your legal options are. Liability insurance involving employees, instead of an average everyday driver, is a lot more complicated than people think. To sue for negligence you have to prove the truck driver failed to give you what is referred to as duty of care. If they breached that duty with an actual or proximate causation, like injuries and damages from an accident, then you can make a legal case for driver negligence.
Some examples of negligence involving delivery trucks are:
- Not setting the parking brake
- Not yielding when merging back into traffic
- Backtracking after missing a delivery
- Inadequate training
- Increased driver fatigue due to long shifts
- Failure to complete repairs or safety checks
How Can I Sue For Being Hit By a Semi Truck?
If you’re surprised by how many accidents are caused by semi trucks, then you are not alone. Getting hit by a semi truck is a common enough occurrence that a truck accident law firm, like the attorneys at Avrek Law, are the experts when it comes to ensuring you get the justice you deserve. With more than 50 years combined experience representing cases in several states that involve semi truck accidents. The consultation is free and you’ll get advice from a law firm with more than $1 billion recovered in more than 45,000 cases. View one of our locations or contact us for a free consultation.
