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The Deadly Truth About Tractor-Trailers

Large trucks account for only 3% of the registered vehicles on America’s roads and are primarily engaged in moving goods and services on our highways. Unfortunately, the trucking industry and its lobby regularly try to avoid safer driving practices because they want to keep profits high and costs low. The toll of this behavior is extremely high and is counted in broken bodies and lives.

About 5,000 fatal tractor trailer accidents occur each year in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1 out of every 9 fatal accidents involves a tractor trailer. Missouri experienced more than 800 fatalities in 2008.

Of those killed in a tractor trailer accident, 76% were occupants of another vehicle, 9% were non-occupants, and 15% were occupants of the tractor trailer. This just goes to show that in a large truck accident, the victim is usually the driver of the smaller vehicle.
The fatality rate for tractor trailer accidents is nearly double that of passenger vehicles.
Over 440,000 accidents occur each year as a result of large truck accidents.
In about half of all fatal truck accidents, both the truck and the other vehicle were traveling in a straight line – no turns or curves in the road influenced the accident.
Most fatal truck accidents – 67% – happen during the daytime, and 61% of fatal truck accidents happen in rural areas. Trucks often rush to make deliveries and drivers may be encouraged to drive long hours. Fatigued drivers are danagerous drivers. For more information on the danger heavy trucks pose visit  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If you or a loved one has been invovled in a truck accident Call Now for a free consultation about your rights. Knowing your rights and taking action promptly will give you the best chance of a full and fair recovery. Our firm has extensive experince in injury law and truck collisions. Our email us at infor@tgflaw.com. Our firm handles truck accidents throught Missouri.

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