Truck Accidents
Truck drivers have the responsibility of driving enormous vehicles loaded with cargo, which is often hazardous materials. It's a tough job, and most truck drivers do an excellent job by following the rules of the road. Unfortunately, there are truck drivers and trucking companies that fail to follow the rules of the road and the consequences can be devastating.
Weighing more than 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, trucks are approximately 20 times heavier than the average passenger car. About 500,000 truck accidents happen in the United States each year. Many of the injuries and fatalities suffered in these catastrophic accidents occur to passengers and drivers of smaller vehicles.
Examples of serious injuries as a result of truck accidents include:
Spinal cord injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Fractures / broken bones
Lacerations
Amputations
If you have lost a loved one, we also represent surviving families in wrongful death lawsuits.
FMCSA Violations & Truck Accidents
Because of the inherent dangers associated with operating massive vehicles on busy highways for hundreds of miles on deadline, the trucking industry is heavily regulated. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) is a branch of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) specifically designed to regulate trucking. The goal of the FMCSA is to lower the rate of accidents, injuries and fatalities associated with large carrier vehicles.
If you were involved in a truck accident, Nordyke Law Offices can answer your questions and conduct an investigation. In some accidents, FMCSA regulations were violated and contributed to the crash. The trucking company will proactively examine the accident and in some cases, their attorneys have been known to arrive on the scene even before the police. It is important you have legal representation that is looking out for you.
Examples of truck-driving rule violations or negligence include:
Distracted driving
Texting / talking on the phone behind the wheel
Missed or inadequate truck inspections
Insufficient training
Substance abuse
Falling asleep behind the wheel
