The Impact of Big Rig Accidents on Our Families

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On average, drivers of large trucks and big rigs travel far and above more miles than passenger vehicle drivers. As such, in the past decade alone, there have been an estimated 400,000 accidents each year in the U.S. that involved trucks and big rigs. According to statistics, truck accidents average around 5,000 fatalities each year in the U.S. alone.

Causes of Truck Accidents

From collisions to roll overs and under rides, truck accidents run the gamut. Aside from the usual types of accidents that can occur due to poor driving and reckless habits, in general, truck drivers face certain challenges that regular motorists do not generally deal with. For instance, because driving a truck is a business and a source of income, truck drivers are more likely to be on strict deadlines in order to be paid. As a result, they sometimes lose sleep deliberately in order to make up for lost time when weather conditions create delays. This makes them less aware and more likely to cause an accident.

Truck Accident Injuries

The injuries that occur as a result of a truck or big rig accident can include everything from whiplash to loss of limb and death. As noted by a North Carolina truck accident attorney, “Accidents involving trucks are frequently very serious and often more difficult to deal with than auto only accidents.”

It is quite usual for people involved in an accident with a truck or big rig to be mortally wounded. In addition, the impact of a big rig colliding with a smaller vehicle can often cause the car to burst into flames. This is why there are so many fatalities and cars totaled involving truck collisions on the road today.

Fatalities

It is estimated that at least twelve percent of all highway incidents involving a truck include the death of one person or more. Regular vehicle drivers and passengers account for a staggering 75 to 80 percent of all truck wreck fatalities. For truck drivers and their passengers involved in an accident, 16 percent results in death.

Recuperation

Since the injuries sustained by motorists involved in a truck or big rig collision are often more severe, the recovery time can be much longer than other types of accidents on the road. As such, the pain and suffering is longer, the medical bills are higher and the time off from work is greater.

There is also a great deal of emotional recuperation that must occur after a truck wreck. For example, some people become terrified of the road and get so nervous that they discontinue driving. This impacts people’s lives in a number of ways. First, their capacity to earn a living could be affected. Secondly, their social lives could suffer and they could become reclusive. Relying upon friends and family is also a burden that most people would not want to put upon their loved ones.

Trucks and big rigs are everywhere. Because of this they are unavoidable. As such, it would be very easy for a person who experienced an accident involving a truck to become paralyzed with fear at the mere thought of driving. As a result, loved ones could be left in the lurch when it comes to the financial burden of medical costs and the injured victim’s ability to provide for them. The emotional impact is also devastating and can have a life long effect upon all of those involved.

This is why it is so important for anyone who has been involved in an accident with a truck or big rig to first get immediate medical attention. Next, ensure that they have adequate legal counsel so that their rights and expenses are covered. Last, but not least, injured parties and their families should get counseling and help for the emotional devastation that these types of collisions can cause.

Although a skilled driver, Nadine Swayne still demonstrates extra care around big rigs on the highway and presents this article to help alert other drivers to do so as well. At Auger & Auger, a North Carolina truck accident attorney law firm, the attorneys are dedicated to providing high quality legal representation to those injured in truck accidents. Their goal is to help clients and their families obtain the fair compensation they deserve.

19 Comments

  1. They are really scary. I remember driving cross country with my family years ago and the trucks bear down on you if you going too slow for them…and you’d better get out of their way or else

  2. I’ve been in an accident that involved a big rig. It was a terrible experience for all involved and still haunts me today.

  3. I always get so scrared when I am driving next to a big rig!

  4. About 10 years ago, my cousin’s wife’s family was hit by a semi. Her father father, little brother and sister were killed. 🙁 I’ve been terrified of semis ever since.

  5. I’m always super cautious…I unfortunately witnessed an accident with a big truck once and it was pretty awful (someone cut him off and he went careening out of control)

  6. If it had been a big truck that hit us in our last accident, we would have been goners. It’s amazing we survived it. It was head-on.

  7. I know we have to share the roads, but they scare me!

  8. They also carry most of out goods across the country that we use. That being said, they scare me too on the roads!

  9. I am always afraid of them when I pass them on the Interstate, they are often waving back in forth in their lane.

  10. Some of the drivers are crazy, but most I’ve encountered on the roadways have seemed to be good drivers.

  11. I’ve always been scared of driving by trucks. My old boss’s dad was hit by a semi & his car went up in flames. He didn’t make it. 🙁

  12. 5,000 is a lot of fatalities for a year! That is truly frightening. I also hate to drive alongside big rigs. I keep as far away as possible from them when I’m out and about.

  13. I always worry about semi’s on my travels.

  14. These aggressive big rigs make me so angry because all I can think of is someones child might be in that car or is it really that important to almost kill people to make sure your shipment gets there on time?

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