Truck Trailer Accidents, Often Fatal for Auto Passengers

With more and more large trucks/tractor trailers on the road every year, your chances of being involved in an accident with one, is much more likely to happen to you. There are approximately 500,000 accidents each year in the U.S., involving passenger cars and the "big rigs". One out of eight fatalities is due to colliding with a truck. Death and serious injuries usually are restricted to the passengers of the smaller vehicles, while the driver of the truck is seldom seriously injured.

Fatal crash rates for trucks are 2.6 deaths per one hundred million miles traveled. This is 50% greater than the rate for other vehicles. Furthermore, trucks and tractor trailors are more often involved in multiple accidents. because 80% of truck accidents involve more than one other vehicle.

Government law requires operators to have a commercial driver's license and have periodic drug and alcolhol tests. The effectiveness of these tests are questioned because of the continuing amount of accidents.

Fatigue plays a large part in many truck accidents. Many admit falling asleep while driving, making their trucks lethal weapons for those around them. Drivers quite often stay on the road longer than they should for financial reasons, and push themselves to drive longer distances than they can safely drive.

Downtime is now required by the US Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Adminstration. This was done in 2003, and the compliance date was January 4, 2004. These actions were taken to help lower the accident rate. New guidelines now define how long drivers can legally drive each day. Regulations now permit drivers to be on the road for eleven hours after having ten consecutive hours of off duty rest, and are not allowed to drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty, following ten hours off duty. They may not drive after being on duty for sixty jhours in a seven consecutive day period, or seventy hours in an eight consecutive day period. The on duty cycle can be restarted if there is at least a thirty-four hour off-duty period.

Short haul drivers that return routinely to their place of dispatch after their shift and then are released, sometimes have an increased on duty period of time of sixteen hours after a week of regular shifts.The exception of the 16 hour period, takes the business needs into consideration without jeopardizing safety. Without this flexability it is estimated that at least 48,000 new inexperienced drivers would have have to be hired, therefore increasing the accident rate.

It is estimated that the new rules may prevent 75 fatalities and perhaps 1,300 crashes yearly. In the past, drivers repeatedly violated the old regulations with hours of service. Vigorous enforcement needs to be put into place, otherwise, compliance may also be poor for the new regulations.

Injured? Recover Your Losses

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Compensation for injuries suffered in personal injury cases are necessary

today to help those that have unfortunately been injured in some way. These can be life altering situations, and usually cause many hardships for the injured party and their families. What was once a simple task, now is very hard or impossible to do.They can no longer do the things they love to do, like playing ball, or other favorite activities and may never return to work. Those that are fortunate enough to recover from their injuries are able to return to work with limited capacities. Many people with personal injuries have undergone many surgeries to get them to a point that they can resume some sense normal activity, and others never will. This is when compensation for those injuries need to be addressed.

Many victims do not receive the compensation they deserve. Often when people are injured, they try to hide and not except the damage to their bodies. Not accepting the injury is a very dangerous thing to do. It slows down the recovery and rehabilitation process, and usually takes a huge toll on family and friends. It also keeps the injured person from receiving the compensation they need and deserve, and causes severe financial difficulty.

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Lawsuit advances help injured parties to pay their bills and live decently until their case settles. Having less stress, along with the proper therapy, also helps in the recovery process. During this time, choosing the right attorney is highly important. One that understands and cares about your case is very important, and isn't there just to collect fees. Lawsuit advances give you the help you need, and gives your attorney time to settle your case for the best possible amount. Of course there are other alternatives to lawsuit advances. Loans from friends or family. Maxing out your credit cards, or personal loans, or even home equity loans. All of these options are expected to be paid back, either by monthly payments or other arrangements. Lawsuit advances are non recourse advances, they are not loans. Advances are only paid back when the final settlement is received. Cases that have no recovery, are not repaid.

After Your Case Settles

When your case is successfully litigated, all the stress, problems, and negative feelings,dissolve and allow you to concentrate on life and recovery with family and friends.