Articles Posted in Trucking Accidents

The economy has been in the news for so long that many people are tired of hearing about the recession. Nevertheless, there are many subtle ways that economic forces could be impacting your life – without you even being aware of it. For example, some experts believe that the poor economy may lead to an increase in trucking accidents. Currently, about 100 people die as a result of trucking accidents each week. Many hundreds more sustain serious brain injuries, broken bones, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and other serious personal injury as a result of trucking accidents.

During the holidays, there are many factors that add to the risks of trucking accidents. During this time of year, some states have poor weather and very short daylight hours, leaving truck drivers to drive in worse conditions. As well, there are more drivers on the roads as people across Florida and across the country celebrate the holidays. This, too, can lead to more accidents.

Economics plays its part during the holidays, as well. Many businesses need to hire additional truck drivers at this time of year in order to meet increased demand by shoppers. However, many businesses want to spend as little money as possible on new drivers, especially with the economy still unsteady. This can lead to companies hiring untested and un-unionized truck drivers. In some cases, companies may be unwilking to offer additional training due to cost concerns or may be unwilling to run background checks on new drivers. Unfortunately, this can lead to hazardous driving on the roads.

Trucking accidents claim many lives each year and also cause serious spinal cord injuries, fatalities, head injuries, amputation, burn injuries, and other serious injuries. Everyone has a duty to help prevent these accidents. Employers who hire truck drivers can ensure that their drivers are trained, rested, and experienced for the job. Truck companies can ensure their trucks are in good shape. Car drivers can help prevent car and truck collisions by using extra caution around trucks.

However, you do not have to be on the roads or involved in the trucking industry to make changes that result in safer streets for everyone. If you are a customer or a patron of businesses that rely on trucks, you can make a difference. Every time you buy products, you vote with your dollars. By pressuring companies to make changes in the ways they hire and screen employees, you can make trucking accidents a rarer occurrence.

One thing you can do is join an advocacy group. There are a number of groups which target unsafe practices in the trucking industry. Road Safe America and the Truck Safety Coalition are two advocacy groups which aim to make changes in the trucking industry and work to educate the public about trucking safety issues. There are many ways you can support these groups. You can stay informed through their education programs or participate in petitions. You can also contribute time or money to these groups. These groups are able to create changes through the sheer amount of pressure they are able to generate.

Pedestrian accidents involving trucks are almost always fatal. The sheer size of a truck means that pedestrians often suffer fatal head injuries, internal damage, and other injuries which lead to life-long disability or to death. There are, however, several things that pedestrians can do to help prevent trucking accidents:

1) Be careful when walking around trucks. If you need to walk in front of a truck, make eye contact with the truck driver to ensure that he or she sees you clearly and has time to stop the vehicle. If you need to walk between trucks or behind a truck, make sure that drivers can see you in their mirrors. If you cannot see a driver in the truck mirror, you are likely in a driver’s blind spot. Avoid running around trucks – give truck drivers plenty of time to slow down and stop. Keep in mind that trucks need more time to see you.

2) Obey signals. Avoid walking across streets when your light is red and avoid crossing between cross walks. Obey traffic signals. Trucks require more time to stop and may not be able to brake in time if you do something unexpected.

Truck accidents occur all year. Unfortunately, due to the size of trucks, many accidents involving these vehicles are not survivable, especially for pedestrians and car drivers involved in the crash. Those who survive a trucking accident often suffer from serious burns, broken limbs, brain trauma, spinal cord injuries, and other serious personal injuries. While these accidents and injuries can occur at any time of year, there are some factors that increase the risks of trucking accidents during the holiday season.

Higher traffic volumes can increase the risks of vehicle accidents at this time of year. During the holiday season, there are extra deliveries to make and stores usually require more inventory, putting more trucks and truck drivers on the road. In some cases, truck drivers are pressured to meet very demanding deadlines. At the same time, more passenger vehicles are on the roads as more people attend holiday events and run holiday errands. More pedestrians are on the streets, as well, as more shoppers visit stores. Extra traffic can create congestion, short tempers, and an increased risk of accidents.

Drunk driving accidents can involve both car and car-truck collisions. Many holiday parties at this time of year include alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, even though drunk driving campaigns have been in place for years, some drivers still choose to drink and drive, a decision which often leads to tragedy. When a drunk driver causes a collision with a truck, the results can be even more devastating.

Year round, trucking accidents cause fatalities, property damage, and serious personal injuries – including severe burns, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries. However, during the holiday season, truck accidents are a special concern. More companies are relying on trucks during the holiday season to deliver inventory and products for the season. This time of year tends to be the most intensive retail period of the year and companies order more products, which means more trucks on the road. Unfortunately, it can also mean more stressful schedules for truck drivers and tighter delivery deadlines, which can mean tired (and dangerous) drivers.

In addition to more inventory deliveries, many companies offer special delivery options at this time of year. Some companies offer holiday-only rush deliveries within a specific area. Other companies offer delivery year-round, but more customers take advantage of delivery during the holiday season as they try to cross off holiday lists.

During the holidays, there is more taking place, and this can mean more deliveries and more trucks on the road – a fact that can mean more accidents. For example, seasonal businesses, such as Christmas tree lots, use trucks to transport products. Holiday parades and “pictures with Santa” services require delivery trucks to open for business. Even holiday parties can mean more delivery trucks on the roads, as caterers are more busy at this time of year, shuttling appetizers and treats to parties.

It’s cold and flu season again and this year there is the added concern of a new flu virus, the H1N1 flu. Unfortunately, for the nation’s truck drivers, flu and cold season is more than an annoyance. It can be dangerous, as illness can lead to trucking accidents and the personal injuries and fatalities that these accidents can cause.

Flu and cold symptoms are a major issue that contributes to trucking accidents. Drivers who develop symptoms may have stuffy noses, coughing, high fever, aching limbs, and grogginess. All of these symptoms can make truck drivers dangerous. Drivers may not be able to fully focus on the road while ill or may make mistakes behind the wheel. Unfortunately, due to the size and force of trucks, even small errors can result in big accidents.

Drivers should never drive their truck while they are ill. Unfortunately, even healthy drivers can be affected by flu symptoms. If a passenger vehicle driver is driving while ill, that driver may make mistakes on the road that cause a collision between a truck and the car.

Truck accidents are dangerous at any time of the year. They can always cause spinal cord injuries, head trauma, fatalities, burn injuries, and other serious injuries. However, there are a number of factors that make holiday accidents more likely:

1) More people on the roads. More people tend to be on the roads in the weeks leading up to the holidays because of family visits, parties, social events, and holiday shopping. More traffic can mean more risk for accidents, as cars of many types share the road with truck drivers.

2) Worse weather conditions. Florida truck drivers may enjoy fair weather in their home state, but they might need to leave the south to travel to snowy and wintry areas, where the possibility of whiteout conditions and ice are a real problem. Drivers need to have trucks that are ready for winter driving and need to have the expertise to deal with potentially dangerous – and changeable – conditions.

Truck drivers are vital to businesses and customers all year round, but especially so at this time of year. As the holidays approach, customers and companies rely heavily on truck drivers to deliver certain products and services on time. Truck drivers, however, also have a duty to deliver things safely. Here are some ways that truck drivers can stay safer and can help prevent trucking accidents:

1) Get extra training. Additional training can help refresh certain safety standards and ideas in the minds of truck drivers. Training sessions can also help remind drivers about defensive driving techniques that can help prevent truck accidents and the personal injuries they can cause.

2) Help companies stay safe. If you are a truck driver and see something that is unsafe – whether it is unrealistic deadlines, poor truck maintenance, or poor driver screening – point this out to your employer. Your employer has an obligation to keep drivers and their workers safe. However, not all companies are aware of problems that exist. By speaking up, you could save a life. If no one listens to your concerns, take these issues to higher authorities. Poor safety practices will eventually cause personal injury and loss of life, so act now.

If you own a business, holiday time often means extra business and more busyness. Many companies rely on trucks heavily in the weeks and months leading up to the holiday season: inventory must be shipped in, deliveries need to be shipped to customers, and last-minute shoppers often require last-minute deliveries. All of these tasks often require truck services. Whether you have your own in-house drivers and trucks or whether you use a transportation service, however, there are several things you can do to help prevent truck accidents:

1) Screen drivers carefully and insist that transport companies do the same. Just one badly trained or unqualified truck driver can cause an accident that claims lives or causes serious, permanent personal injuries. Check anyone who drives for you carefully and check out-of-state driving records as well. A private investigator is usually very thorough and can do this for a flat fee. If you use a transport service or truck company service, ask to see evidence of their screening process to ensure that they screen applicants correctly. Refuse to do business with any company that does not screen its drivers very thoroughly.

2) Inspect any trucks that deliver on behalf of your business. If a truck delivers your products, team members, or is associated with your company, you are responsible for the safety of that truck. If you have in-house trucks, have a seasonal tune up completed and ensure that your trucks are safe and ready for the holiday season. If you will be delivering outside of Florida, ensure that your trucks have the right tires for winter driving.

There are many devices and safety features that can be added to a truck in order to help prevent car-truck accidents and trucking accidents. Whether you are a company owner looking to outfit your fleet or a truck driver buying your own truck, here are some features that can help prevent a truck accident and the injuries it can cause:

1) Seat belts. Seat belts, of course, are required by law and come standard with all trucks. However, they need to be used to be effective. If you are buying a used truck, ensure that the seat belts work properly. They are the most basic device used to help prevent brain injuries and other serious injuries in an accident. Some trucks come with “reminder” bells that chime if someone in the cab is not wearing a seatbelt. This can be very handy for reminding drivers about the importance of seat belts.

2) GPS devices. GPS devices can help drivers avoid distractions. Good GPS systems are accurate and include voice instructions, so that drivers do not have to look at the device map itself. Since delivery drivers are often sent to unfamiliar locations, a good GPS system is crucial for directing drivers safely and with minimal distractions to their location.