Not surprisingly, 85 percent of those deaths involved occupants of cars or pedestrians struck by trucks. The victims who survive truck accidents frequently face serious injuries, costly medical bills and the loss of significant income.

Because special rules apply to large trucks using our highways, it is important that victims of truck accidents consult with an attorney who has the experience and resources necessary to effectively handle such claims. The Personal Injury Team at Kane Legal can provide truck accident victims with the experience and resources necessary to insure a favorable recovery.

Numerous elements must be considered to fully evaluate an accident involving a truck and the appropriate recovery for the victims. The condition and design of roadways, the actions of the drivers involved, the condition of their vehicles, weather conditions, actions of other vehicles, and a host of other factors may all play a part in the ultimate decision.

What are the dangers associated with 18-wheelers?

The American Association for Justice recently released the findings of a study of safety performance data that reveals more than 28,000 motor carrier companies have violated federal safety regulations, putting U.S. motorists on the roads with trucks that have such violations as defective brakes, bald tires, loads that dangerously exceed weight limits and drivers with little or no training, or drug and alcohol dependencies.

The safety data comes from the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS), maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The study indicates that while truck accidents occur for a variety of reasons, many are preventable, and often a direct result of trucking companies violating safety standards to cut corners and maximize profits.

Among the startling findings revealed in FMCSA data:

• More than 4,000 people die every year in collisions with trucks, and 80,000 more are seriously injured.
• Though trucks make up less than four percent of all passenger vehicles on U.S. roads, they are involved in 12 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities.
• The vast majority of people killed in accidents with trucks are the drivers and passengers of the cars that get hit.
• Making matters even worse, the AAJ report says not only do the trucking companies disregard safety laws, but the minimum insurance requirements for commercial trucks are completely inadequate to compensate those who have been seriously injured in a collision.

What can I do if I have been injured as the result of an 18-wheeler accident? If you or someone you know was killed or seriously injured in a truck or car accident, you may want to contact an auto accident attorney for a free evaluation of your case.  You may also fill out the online form and someone will contact you promptly.