A recent Popular Mechanics article about semi trucks details many things about tractor trailers that the average person probably doesn’t know. For instance, of the almost 2 million semi trucks operating in the United States, one third are registered in Texas, California, and Florida. These trucks are operated by 3.2 million registered drivers, who drive a combined 140 billion miles a year. And semi trucks are heavy, with a maximum legal weight of 80,000 pounds. That’s 20 to 30 times the weight of the average automobile.
With all those trucks, carrying all that weight, for all those miles, semi truck accidents are bound to happen. In fact, the Department of Transportation (DOT) estimates that there are approximately 500,000 trucking accidents a year, resulting in an average of 5,000 fatalities. Because of a tractor trailer’s overwhelming size and weight, truck vs. automobile accidents tend to cause very serious injury. The DOT claims that, in truck vs. automobile accident deaths, 98 percent of the victims are in the passenger vehicle.
Anyone in an accident with a semi truck may be entitled to financial compensation. Statistics show that fatal truck accidents cost Americans over $20 billion each year. If you’ve lost a loved one or been injured in an accident with a truck, you need to consult an experienced accident and personal injury attorney. The Waco trial attorneys at Brown Trial Firm, PLLC have represented hundreds of clients who’ve suffered from truck accidents and won major damages. Call us today at (254) 269-6700 for a no charge, confidential consultation.