Large trucks pose a danger on roads and highways

In Tennessee and elsewhere in the nation, large trucks on highways and roads pose a danger to motorists, pedestrians and motorcyclists. According to statistics published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, truck accidents involving multiple vehicles were more likely to result in fatalities as opposed to multiple-vehicle accidents involving passenger cars in 2012. Multiple-vehicle accidents involving large trucks were fatal 81 percent of the time, compared with a 58-percent fatality rate for passenger-vehicle accidents.

The majority of fatal truck accidents, roughly 46 percent, occurred when both the vehicle and large truck were driving straight. The minority of fatal accidents involving large trucks took place when either the vehicle or truck was parked or stopped within a traffic lane. Head-on collisions accounted for 31 percent of multi-vehicle accidents involving large trucks. The vast majority of these accidents took place on weekdays.

It is clear that large trucks pose a serious risk of a fatal outcome when they are involved in multiple-vehicle accidents. If a person is killed in a large-truck accident, family members or heirs may be entitled to compensation for loss of companionship, funeral costs, medical expenses and lost income.

It can be difficult to determine who should be held liable in a large-truck accident. For example, while the truck’s driver could be held liable, the company that owns the truck or hired the driver may also be held accountable. A lawyer with an extensive background in personal injury cases may investigate an accident to determine who may be responsible to pay compensation.

Source: National Center for Statistics and Analysis, “Traffic Safety Facts – Large Trucks”, January 03, 2015