We’ve reported to you before that Northwest Indiana combined with South Chicago is one of the busiest set of commercial trucking routes in the country. And one of the deadliest.
We are right in the middle of it.
I-65, from Gary through Merrillville and on down through Indianapolis and into Kentucky and further south to Mobile, Alabama, is busy year-round with heavy traffic from big trucks. Combined with other vehicular traffic, the accidents are often major multi-vehicle affairs.
Already in 2018 there have been several fatalities involving semi-trailer trucks.
Statistics from recent years tell us that things are not getting much better. A total of 3,986 people died in large truck crashes in 2016. Seventeen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 66 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 16 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.
The number of people who died in large truck crashes was 27 percent higher in 2016 than in 2009, when it was the lowest it has been since the collection of fatal crash data began in 1975. The number of truck occupants who died was 47 percent higher than in 2009.
Indiana ranked among the top 10 states with the highest number of large truck accidents.
If you’re in a car or riding a motorcycle, you don’t want to mess with a big truck. You’ll end up the loser.
There are many reasons for these accidents, many of them not the fault of any driver. Instead, it’s simply the result of poor conditions, including:
- Rain or snow-covered roads that can contribute to slippery conditions — the perfect recipe for jackknifed semis.
- Road construction and roads with reduced lanes.
- General traffic congestion.
Too often an accident can also be caused by brake, tire or manufacturing defects in the truck itself. There may also be negligence on the part of the company that owns the truck, if the truck was not properly maintained.
Often times, crashes are caused by:
- Failed brakes
- Improper tires for the weight of the truck
- Worn tires causing a blow-out
- Overloading the truck
Most trucking accidents where the truck driver is at fault are caused simply by operator error. These include:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol, prescription or over-the-counter drugs
- Driving too fast for the conditions
- Becoming distracted by something inside or outside the vehicle, including texting and driving
- Driver fatigue
- Misjudging the speed of other vehicles
- Following vehicles too closely
If you, a family member or friend is seriously injured because of a big truck accident caused by the negligence of the driver, contact Tauber Law Office immediately. Do not ever agree to a quick settlement offered by the trucking company or its insurance provider before talking to us first.
Tauber Law Offices has generations of experience in helping people fight the trucking companies to obtain fair compensation for their injuries and/or property loss. We have collected millions of dollars in settlements for our clients.
There are no guarantees of course. But we will do our best to get you the compensation you deserve. And no fees until we do.
If you are the victim of a truck accident, it’s time to contact Tauber Law Offices.
