Lexington Truck Accident Lawyer
With the junction of major interstates U.S. 75 and U.S. 64 and numerous US and Kentucky state highways radiating out from the city, Lexington, Kentucky sees a high volume of truck traffic moving through its borders at all hours of the day and night. Given the high level of trucking on Lexington’s congested roads, you may think that trucking accidents are inevitable, but the vast majority of truck accidents are preventable. Improper truck maintenance and driver error are often responsible for collisions involving tractor-trailers and smaller, lighter passenger vehicles.
Lexington, Kentucky truck accident lawyer Todd W. Burris knows what it takes to hold the drivers of big rigs and the trucking companies liable for their negligence; he sees to it that accident victims and their families get the compensation they need and deserve.
Kentucky Truck Accident Facts and Statistics
According to the Kentucky State Police, there were 7,904 semi-truck collisions in Kentucky in 2013, resulting in 1,769 injuries and 81 deaths. These accidents were attributed to problems with the tractor-trailer, such as defective headlights, overweight and oversized loads, improperly secured loads, and brake and tire failure, as well as truck driver factors, including speeding, aggressive or reckless driving, driving while fatigued, and failing to drive with care by checking blind spots, maintaining adequate stopping distance, or controlling downhill speed.
Because of their immense size and weight, truck accidents have the potential to cause serious injuries or wrongful death to the occupants of the other vehicle. Their size and weight also make them more difficult to stop, so truck drivers need to maintain adequate distance from other vehicles to stop or react in time to a sudden emergency. Truckers also have several blind spots on all sides of the semi, some of which stretch across several lanes of traffic. Competent and careful truck drivers know to always check their mirrors and signal their intentions well in advance of any turn or lane change. 18-wheeler semi trucks, especially, must be driven with extreme caution.
Accidents Caused by Truck Driver Fatigue
Truck driver fatigue is a major concern and leading cause of truck accidents. Truckers drive long hours for days in a row to deliver their freight as quickly as possible. Some use stimulants to stay awake, but these drugs only mask fatigue and actually increase driver distraction and inattention. Regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are not much help, either. While these regulations do control the maximum hours a trucker can drive in a workweek, they still allow 14-hour shifts with 11 hours behind the wheel for six or seven days in a row. What’s worse, many truckers and trucking companies choose to ignore the regulations and drive beyond what is allowed.
As an experienced Lexington truck accident attorney, Todd W. Burris knows how to investigate a truck accident to determine whether the driver and trucking company were in compliance with FMCSA regulations at the time of the crash. He’s also experienced in knowing what type of evidence will likely help your case against major trucking corporations and manufacturers. Truck accident lawsuits can be complicated, but not with the right attorney on your side.
Get Help from an Experienced Kentucky Truck Wreck Lawyer
If you have been seriously injured or lost a loved one to a truck accident in Lexington or the surrounding areas in Fayette County, contact the Law Office of Todd Burris for a free consultation with an experienced truck accident and personal injury attorney.
