Truck Accident Statistics

The numbers show why Auburn truck accident victims need an experienced attorney

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were over 368,000 police-reported large truck crashes nationwide in 2006, killing almost 5,000 people, and injuring 106,000 others.  The National Transportation Safety Board reports 137 Alabama large truck accident fatalities in that same year. 

A truck accident attorney with specialized skills is critical in ensuring accident victims in Auburn pursue the full compensation they need—potentially for a lifetime.

The unique aspects of truck accidents

The true causes of any collision on the road can be challenging to identify.  But when an Auburn truck accident occurs, your attorney needs a specialized set of skills and knowledge to determine the complexities behind a collision that can be caused by a number of unique factors:

• The severity of damages and injuries.  When large, heavy vehicles share the road with smaller ones, minor injuries after collisions are the exception rather than the rule.  What would be a minor fender-bender between two cars can be a life-altering event when a car is tapped by a semi-truck.
• Determining liability in the accident.  When a large commercial vehicle is involved, there are many complicating factors in determining fault.  While it is possible that the driver alone was negligent, it is equally possible that he or she lost control of the vehicle due to many other circumstances. These include a load shift caused when someone else incorrectly packed the trailer, an inadequate safety inspection prior to the trip, or even a poorly-maintained road.
• Commercial considerations.  Trucking companies operate under both state and federal legal requirements—and they have their own sets of requirements that must be followed by truck drivers to ensure goods arrive at their destinations within specified time frames.  The commercial aspects of every run can affect the safety of that run, and may be contributing factors when an accident occurs.

The attorneys at Whittelsey, Whittelsey & Poole have a full range of experience dealing with state and federal trucking laws as well as how trucking company operations can affect every run.

For a free initial consultation about your Auburn truck accident, contact an experienced law firm

When you need sound legal counsel from experienced trial attorneys regarding a truck accident or any personal injury caused by the negligence of another party, contact Whittelsey, Whittelsey & Poole to arrange a consultation.