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Practice Areas Semi Truck Accident
Practice Areas Semi Truck Accident
Semi-Tractor Trailer AccidentsA 18-wheel semi-tractor trailer traveling at 70 miles per hour has twice as much energy as one at 50 mph. Automobiles are designed under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to encounter similar size vehicles, not 80,000 pound semis. The sheer size of a semi-tractor trailer allows the front bumper to be significantly higher off the ground, allowing it to possibly intrude into an automobile's passenger compartments resulting in catastrophic injury. The absence of side bumpers allows cars to become pinned underneath the trailer. Together these factors account for the high percentage of serious injuries and deaths in these crashes.Common causes of tractor-trailer accidents include:DUI/DWI The National Institute on Drug Abuse conducted a study in eight states of 168 fatally injured truck drivers over one year's time. The results showed that one or more drugs was detected in 67% of these fatally injured drivers and 33% of these drivers had detectable blood concentrations of psychoactive drugs or alcohol. Truck driver fatigue & unrealistic schedules Driver fatigue, drowsiness and driver distraction are conditions that result in reckless behavior such as failure to maintain lane position and leaving the roadway. Although the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration instituted new regulations to combat truckers' problems with fatigue, the U.S. Transportation Safety Board still faults driver fatigue as a probable factor in 20-40% of truck crashes. Aggressive driving behavior & tailgating Trucks need a greater stopping distance than other vehicles. If there is not enough stopping distance between a car and a large truck, the car risks being involved in a rear-end collision. Driving in conditions of poor visibility due to fog, snow, rain, or smoke When large trucks travel through hazardous conditions, the odds are drastically increased that tractor-trailer accidents will occur. Extreme winds can push semis and their trailers all over the roadway making safely maneuvering the vehicle even more of a challenge. Foggy conditions can also make it difficult not only for truck drivers to see what's in front of them, but for other drivers to see the truck. Regulations force truck drivers to pull off the roadways when severe weather makes it unsafe for them to travel. Failure of tires, brakes, tarps, load restraints and lights Defective truck parts can lead to tragic accidents by affecting the driver's ability to maintain control of his multi-ton vehicle. Also, if certain safety products designed for trucks are not in proper working order, such as warning lights, an oncoming driver may not see the truck and ultimately collide with it or another vehicle nearby. Inspection and maintenance of tires, lights, and braking systems is vital to ensure the safety of large trucks on our roadways. Failure of a truck's braking system is one of the most common causes of collisions with commercial vehicles. Overloaded, Unbalanced load and Improperly-loaded trucks Overloaded cargo, or cargo that is not loaded according to regulations, can cause a serious semi-truck accident in a number of ways. The cargo could add so much weight to an already over-sized truck that it causes top-heaviness, increasing the risk of jackknifing or overturning around curves. Overloaded or improperly-loaded cargo can potentially shift while in motion. In such cases, objects on the truck may be more inclined to fall off, dropping debris in the middle of the roadway, or even falling directly onto another vehicle. No matter the size of debris, these hazardous objects create sudden roadway obstructions that can force other drivers to make quick and dangerous maneuvers to avoid them - potentially leading to multi-vehicle accidents that frequently result in serious injury or death. Failure to account for vehicles in blind spots Tractor-trailer trucks need to swing wide to the left in order to negotiate a right turn. When truck drivers make wide right turns; they are often unable to see smaller vehicles directly behind or beside them. Additional blind spots are located around the front, back, and sides of the truck. When a car is in one of these blind spots, the truck driver is usually unable to see it. At these times, a large truck could turn into a passing car or squeeze a car between the trailer and the curb resulting in a potentially fatal injury. Contact our Truck Accident AttorneysIf you have been involved in a truck accident in Wisconsin, it is important to hire a respected personal injury law firm to protect your rights and help you obtain the financial compensation you deserve. At Pitman, Kyle & Sicula our experienced attorneys conduct a full investigation into the accident and work with insurance representatives to obtain significant settlements for our clients. In addition, our attorneys provide each client with personalized attention, viable resources, and compassionate legal care. If you are in need of a Wisconsin truck accident attorney, contact Pitman, Kyle & Sicula, S.C. today for your free consultation at (800) 950-9882. 
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