Fatal Big Rig Accident Claims

Fatal truck accidents don't happen as quite often on the roads of the United States as one would think, considering the number of large rig trucks that share the road with passenger car. In fact, truck accidents account for only 3 percent of all traffic accidents in the country. However, when truck accidents do occur they can be devastating to to the large discrepency in weight and mass between passenger cars and the commercial 18 wheel trucks. Big rigs are trucks that have a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more. Each year, an average of 5,000 motorists are killed and 130,000 motorists are injured in the United States as a result of big rig accidents. The cost for fatal semi truck accidents exceeds $20 billion. There are $8.7 billion in productivity losses, $2.5 billion in resource costs, and $13.1 billion in quality of life losses. It's alot of money!

Causes of Fatal Big Rig Accidents

There is a variety of causes of fatal big rig accidents but surprisingly alcohol is not one of the most common causes. In fact, only one percent of fatal truck accidents are caused by alcohol related problems. The causes of fatal big rig accidents include the following:

• DUI/DWI
• Lack of training for the driver
• Oversized trucks
• Driver fatigue
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Poor truck brakes
• Running off the road
• Speeding
• Inclement weather
• Aggressive driving
• Reckless driving
• Missing reflectors on the truck

The Big Rig Accident Investigation

Shortly after a fatal big rig accident occurs, an investigation will immediately take place by the state and local police at the scene of the accident. After the inital emergency is more manageable, the victim’s family will need to hire a big rig accident attorney. The truck accident attorney will then proceed to perform his or her own investigation into the accident. The attorney’s investigation ideally will net enough evidence to prove that the truck driver or the trucking company is liable for the injuries and/or fatalities suffered from the accident. The attorney’s investigation will also include a visit to the trucking company to have their other trucks inspected to see if they meet safety standards set forth by the United States Department of Transportation.

Legal Action for a Fatal Big Rig Accident

Once the truck attorney has completed his or her investigation into the accident, the attorney will advise the victim’s family as to whether a lawsuit should be filed against the truck driver or the trucking company. If a lawsuit should be filed against the appropriate parties, the attorney will file the appropriate paperwork with the court. It is now the job of the attorney to prove that the truck driver owed the plaintiff a duty of reasonable care, which the defendant breached that duty of care, and that the breach directly caused theinjury to the victim.

Having an experienced truck accident attorney is paramount to one's case. Contact a qualified truck accident lawyer from the law offices of Gordon & Elias, L.L.P. . They will ensure you have the best chance at receiving the compensation you deserve. Call TOLL FREE: 800 - 773 - 6770 to discuss your options.