Truck Accidents On The Rise
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), accidents involving large commercial trucks are on the rise both nationwide and in Tennessee. In 2017, there were 130 fatal accidents on the Tennessee roadways involving a large truck, up from 114 accidents the year before. The injuries caused by truck accidents are often catastrophic for victims, who are overwhelmingly not the truck drivers but others on the road. At Mitch Grissim & Associates, our team is ready to zealously advocate for the compensation you deserve after a trucking accident in the Nashville area. To learn more, call or contact our office today.
Truck Accident Statistics
Truck accidents happen for more often than most people realize and often result in some of the most severe injuries on the road. In 2015, there were over 415,000 truck accidents reported nationwide, and more than 4,050 resulted in a fatality. Over 87,000 injuries were reported, and 342,000 accidents reported property damage as a result of the crash. Over 83 percent of truck accidents involving large commercial vehicles happen on weekdays, and one-quarter of all fatal truck accidents happen on the interstate. Over two-third of all truck accident deaths are the occupants of other cars and passenger vehicles, while another fifteen percent are pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. Only sixteen percent of all fatal truck accident victims are the drivers of the trucks.
What Causes Truck Accidents?
There are many reasons why truck accidents happen in Tennessee. According to the FMCSA, over one-quarter of all truck accidents are caused by truck drivers under the influence of prescription drugs, and another seventeen percent of truck accidents cited the driver under the influence of over the counter medications. Truck drivers routinely use controlled substances in order to stay awake and drive further every day. Around 23 percent of truck accidents were caused because of speeding, and thirteen percent cited driver fatigue as the reason for the crash.
Compensation for Truck Accidents
Victims of truck accidents are entitled to both economic and noneconomic damages for the injuries sustained in a crash. Economic injuries include all out of pocket expenses caused by the accident, including all related medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and the loss of future income and benefits caused by the injuries. Noneconomic damages compensate a victim for their pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disability, and disfigurement.
In the worst cases, when a truck accident proves fatal, the family of the victim can also seek damages for wrongful death. This includes compensation for the victim’s final medical expenses, their pain and suffering, funeral and burial costs, and for the family’s loss of love, support, guidance, and counsel of the deceased.
Talk to Our Office Now
Have you or a loved one been injured in an accident with a large commercial truck in the Nashville area? If so, the experienced Nashville truck accident attorneys at Mitch Grissim & Associates can help. Call the office or contact us today to schedule a free consultation of your case now.
Resource:
fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts
