F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions about trucking accidents and trucking injuries and fatalities

How great is the risk for driver and passengers when their car is involved in an accident with a truck?

Eight out of 10 people killed in truck accidents were drivers and passengers in other vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists.

How frequent are crashes involving large trucks and cars?

In 2006, 4995 people in the US died in accidents involving large trucks, and another 140,000 people were injured. Of the victims who died in truck accidents, nearly 75 percent were occupants of other vehicles, usually passenger cars.

Why are crashes involving a large truck and a car so dangerous for the occupants of the car?

The weight of the average car is 3400 pounds, and a large tractor trailer, fully loaded, can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. Because of the disproportionate weights, the driver and passengers in the car are at much higher risk. The probability that a truck accident will result in death or serious injury increases with each extra ton of weight over 80,000 lbs.

What factors contribute to accidents involving tractor trailers and other large trucks?

Semi-truck accidents can be caused by aggressive driving, including road rage, used of drugs or alcohol, driver fatigue, insufficient or uncompleted maintenance of the vehicle, driving with an unsecured load, and negligent screening and hiring of drivers.

When and where do most truck accidents occur?

The US Department of Transportation reports that most fatal crashes involving large trucks occurred in rural areas (62%), during the daytime (66%), and on weekdays (79%).

What is the most dangerous area around a large truck?

Large trucks have large blind spots, areas where the driver cannot see what's behind him. You can tell you're in a truck's blind spot if you can't see the truck's side mirrors. Remember, if you can't see the mirrors the truck driver can't see you. One-third of all crashes between large trucks and cars take place in the blind spots around a truck.

If I or a loved one has been injured, or my loved one has been killed in a trucking accident, what can I do?

If you believe that the accident was partially or wholly caused by the actions of the truck driver or the trucking company, you should consult with an experienced trucking accident attorney as soon as possible, to determine whether you have a cause of action.

Why must I act as soon as possible?

If you decide to pursue legal action, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible, because there are deadlines called statutes of limitation, set by laws which regulate the filing of lawsuits which vary state by state. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury and feel that negligence or misconduct was involved, you should not delay in contacting an attorney. If the statute of limitations expires, your right to pursue a claim may be forever barred.

If the roadway was dangerous and contributed to the accident, what can I do?

If the roadway condition contributed to the accident, you may have a case against the governmental entity responsible for the road. An experienced trucking accident attorney can determine whether you have a case, you should consult Casey Gerry's trucking accident and highway design defect attorneys without delay.

If I'm injured in a serious trucking accident, what resources will I have to pay my medical expenses?

Most people will have insurance that will help pay medical bills, either their health insurance or through the healthcare provision in their automobile insurance policy. These are called first party benefits, and they are the usual first resource for payment for medical expenses for injuries in a trucking accident. At Casey Gerry our trucking accident lawyers ask our clients to bring in copies of all their policies so that we can determine their rights of recovery under all policies that may apply.

If my insurance company pays some of my medical bills, when I obtain a recovery will they be entitled to reimbursement?

Most insurance policies have a contractual provision stipulating that the insurance company has a right to seek recovery for reimbursement. At the conclusion of your case Casey Gerry will negotiate the best possible terms with your insurance company for reimbursement from the proceeds of your case.