The Truck Accident Law Firm Blog

Trucks, or tractor-trailers are extremely large vehicles. The Department of Transportation limits the weight of tractor-trailers to 80,000 pounds, the width to 102 inches, and the height to 13.5 feet. That is not to say that there are no trucks on the roads over 80,000 pounds, there are. The more goods trucking companies delivered, the more they get paid, so there often trucks are overloaded, which leads to more accidents on the road.

According to the Department of Transportation, more than 500,000 truck accidents occur every year on our highways. The DOT also estimates that over 5,000 fatalities are attributable to truck accidents every year as well.

Considering the sheer size and weight of tractor-trailers, these statistics are not that surprising, but truck accidents are devastating and can be avoided. If you have been involved in a truck accident you may be entitled to receive compensation.

75% of truck accidents, however, are not caused by the driver of the truck, but by the drivers of the smaller passenger vehicles on the road. Oftentimes drivers of passenger vehicles fail to adjust their driving to accommodate large trucks.

Also according to the DOT, in 2003 alone, there were over 4,900 fatalities due to truck accidents.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a truck accident, please contact an experienced truck accident attorney in your area today.