While traffic incidents and ensuing injuries and fatalities continue to rise in the US—leaving infrastructure experts and government analysts to mull over the exact reasons—increases in shipping and trucking cargo being carried across the country are responsible for a portion of these unfortunate statistics.
Along with extra pressure on trucking companies to deliver, they may hire new truck drivers who have less than stellar records too. Although many reputable companies put their drivers through a rigorous application process to include criminal checks and inquiries into their driving backgrounds (not to mention their own training programs for maneuvering trucks to include semis and 18 wheelers), today there is such pressure on trucking companies and such a shortage of drivers in some areas that they may even begin hiring individuals who have records, to include felonies.
These types of exceptions are usually part of special programs on the parts of the trucking companies but remain indicative of the desperation involved in finding drivers. These issues can bleed over into other areas too, and part of that may be drivers who are not familiar enough with driving trucks, the routes, or the types of cargo that need to be loaded and doublechecked. Truck drivers are certainly not immune to some of the more common causes of accidents either. Because they spend an excessive amount of time on the road, they may be even more prone to distracted driving—texting and calling while behind the wheel or eating and drinking. Some drivers may also turn to drugs to keep them awake for the long hours required, or they may consume alcohol out of frustration or boredom or an underlying substance abuse issue.
The simple fact that there are more vehicles on the road, and more trucks, is a recipe for more accidents too. And a smaller vehicle being crushed by a truck that may weigh upward of 80,000 pounds generally leads to catastrophe. Fatalities due to trucking accidents are all too common, but if you were hit by a negligent driver, you could have suffered broken arms or legs, or even amputations. Paralysis, spinal injuries, brain injuries, and soft tissue damage are also common, unfortunately.
If you have been injured in a truck accident due to the negligence of others, this is not the time to go it alone! Attorney Sgt. Pike has developed a system to combat the various forces in the trucking industry attempting to defeat the rights of those wrongfully injured or killed. Based on his training and experience as a Special Forces Operator (Army Green Beret), Attorney Sgt. Pike activates the Truck Accident Response Team or T.A.R.T. ™ immediately after being hired in appropriate cases. T.A.R.T. ™ then deploys to the area of the crash.
Please call the law offices of Andrew ‘Pike’ Piekalkiewicz, PLLC as soon as possible at (713) 748-7453 or visit AttorneySgtPike for a no obligation case review.
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