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In 2000, large trucks accounted for 4 percent of all registered vehicles and 7 percent of total vehicle miles traveled (2001 registered vehicle and vehicle miles traveled data not available). In 2001, large trucks accounted for 8 percent of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes and 4 percent of all vehicles involved in injury and property-damage-only crashes. Used by permission from CRASH
One out of eight traffic fatalities in 2001 resulted from a collision involving a large truck. Of the fatalities that resulted from crashes involving large trucks, 78 percent were occupants of another vehicle, 9 percent were non-occupants and 14 percent were occupants of a large truck. Of the injuries that resulted from crashes involving large trucks, 75 percent were occupants of another vehicle, 2 percent were non-occupants and 23 percent were occupants of a large truck.Large trucks were much more likely to be involved in a fatal multiple-vehicle crash (as opposed to a fatal single-vehicle crash) than were passenger vehicles (83 percent of all large trucks involved in fatal crashes, compared with 62 percent of all passenger vehicles).
In 32 percent of the two-vehicle fatal crashes involving a large truck and another type of vehicle, both vehicles were impacted in the front The truck was struck in the rear nearly twice as often as the other vehicle (16 percent and 7 percent, respectively).
In 50 percent of the two-vehicle fatal crashes involving a large truck and another type of vehicle, both vehicles were proceeding straight at the time of the crash. In 10 percent of the crashes, the other vehicle was turning. In 9 percent, either the truck or the other vehicle was negotiating a curve. In 7 percent, either the truck or the other vehicle was stopped or parked in a traffic lane (6 percent and 1 percent, respectively).
Most of the fatal crashes involving large trucks occurred in rural areas (67 percent), during the daytime (69 percent), and on weekdays (80 percent). During the week, 76 percent of the crashes occurred during the daytime (6:00 AM to 5:59 PM). On weekends, 59 percent occurred at night (6:00 PM to 5:59 AM).
Drivers of large trucks were less likely to have a previous license suspension or revocation than were passenger car driven (8 percent and 13 percent, respectively).
Almost 30 percent of all large truck drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2001 had at least one prior speeding conviction, compared to 20 percent of the passenger car drivers involved in fatal crashes.
The purpose of this is to assist and enable people who have been overpowered to serious injury or is dealing with the death of a loved one, to be able to find the most qualified attorney for these types of cases. In California, people with injuries, or whose family members have been killed, may retain an attorney on a contingent fee agreement. This means that the attorney does not receive any fee or payment unless money is recovered and the attorney fee is paid as a percentage of the amount recovered. In reality people with cases involving serious injury or wrongful death have the undeniable ability to hire the best and most qualified law firm specializing in these type cases. All to often this crucial right is often underestimated. As consumers, we all know how to evaluate and purchase things like cars, refrigerators, houses, and the like, but when it comes to hiring professionals like a professional, you need not be at a loss.
As an injury attorney have you ever tried a case similar to mine and obtained a jury verdict with a very substantial offer of settlement on the table? (If so, what was the highest amount offered prior to the verdict, and what was the amount of the verdict?)What types of cases have you tried this year and what was the result of each case?
Would you and your law firm be able and willing to spend, in advance, as much as $40,000.00 in the investigation, preparation, and presentation of my case, if necessary?
Please tell me what professional organizations you belong to. (Are you a member of the American Board of Trial Lawyers? Are you rated in Martindale-Hubbell, and what is your rating? You might ask to see the current listing and rating in Martindale-Hubbell. If he is rated in Martindale-Hubbell, ask if he is also listed in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Registry of Pre-Eminent Lawyers of America.)
What is the size of your law firm in terms of the number of lawyers and the number of support personnel you have? Who would specifically be working with you on my case and what are their qualifications?
What experts do you expect you will be hiring to assist you with the analysis and presentation of my case?
A. Accident reconstruction experts?
B. Vocational economic analysts?
C. Biomechanical engineer?
D. Life care and planning specialist?
E. Highway and traffic design expert?
F. Human factors expert?
G. Trucking industry expert?
H. Any other expert you believe would be of help for the presentation of my case?
What was your most recent publication what was the subject matter?
All too often, people who have suffered catastrophic injuries or have lost loved ones through the negligence of others really have no idea how to choose a competent attorney to represent them. Common, in today's age of advertising lawyers, many attorneys claim to be "trial lawyers" but have no practical trial experience or expertise in handling claims involving wrongful death or catastrophic injuries. They accept a case with the goal to settle the case for as much money as they can and, unfortunately, often settle claims at sums far below the real value of that client's case. Even worse is the attorney who waits until the last minute and loses being unprepared.
In selecting an attorney, you must make sure not only that the attorney is well-qualified to represent you, more importantly, the attorney and the law firm have the experience and expertise to evaluate your case properly and the conviction to try that case to a jury verdict in the event the defendants are unwilling to pay the full value of your case.
Most cases involving death or personal injury has a definable value and that measurable value is what a jury will give as an award for the case when it is properly prepared and tried before that jury. Many settlement efforts are at best a guess or projection of what a jury will do. You can be assured those defense attorneys and the insurance companies know which lawyers will try major, complex personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits and which lawyers will not. They also know which lawyers obtain large verdicts in those types of cases.
Each and every person who has been seriously injured or who has a claim for the wrongful death of a loved one deserves not only to be treated with respect and dignity but, more importantly, they deserve to have law firms who have the knowledge, experience, and commitment to demand absolute and total justice for their clients.
Please use this checklist to evaluate the competence of any lawyer you interview to determine which lawyer would be best to handle your claim. Our MVAA Panel member attorneys will answer these questions without any hesitation and other ones that you come up with on your own.
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Injuries and fatalities are not the only toll inflicted by large truck crashes. There is also a sizeable financial toll that goes along with such crashes. According to a 1999 study performed by the FMCSA (Cost of Large Truck- and Bus-Involved Crashes), the average cost per crash involving a large truck is $75,637. With 429,000 large truck related crashes in 2001, the total monetary expense for 2001 is minimally $32,448,273,000.00 using 1999 cost estimates. Certainly this figure has grown over the past 3 years.
Additional findings in the FMCSA's study include:
- In 1999, the average cost per large truck crash involving property damage was $11,300.
- The average cost per large truck crash involving an injury was $217,005.
- The average cost per large truck crash involving a fatality was $3.54 million. The cost related to human life and injury is immeasurable.
TREC opened in the fall of 1995 to serve the needs of truck crash victims. Through education, research, and public awareness programs TREC seeks to aid The CRASH Foundation in its efforts to reduce preventable death and injury on our nation's roads. TREC now serves truck crash victims, survivors, their families, truck drivers, attorneys, and individuals and groups interested in truck safety. TREC is the only library and referral service dedicated to providing information and support to those who have been personally affected by a truck crash. There is no other national nonprofit, truck safety center or library that fights for the rights of this special group of people.
TREC's 10,000 volume library of truck safety information is the only library and support service in the country dedicated to providing resources to the public in an effort to enable truckers and other motorists to share the road safely. It contains documents and video from transportation libraries, research institutes, and safety organizations from the U.S. and abroad. The growing collections emphasize current truck safety concerns such as driver fatigue, driver pay and employee protections, truck driver fatigue, underride, double trailer trucks, Longer Combination Vehicles including triple trailers and interstate doubles, NAFTA, conspicuity, heavy truck brakes, over length and overweight trucks.
TREC has been steadily expanding its library through its own research and analysis. TREC generated data is the basis for The CRASH Foundation's annual reports, which rates the states on truck safety. These reports draw national attention to the increasing epidemic of heavy truck crashes. In 1997, 444,000 big rigs crashed, killing 5,355 people, and injuring 133,000 more.
TREC services include Information, support and referral for those who have been personally affected by a truck crash.
Referral to other research services, transportation libraries and state and federal agencies for technical or additional information, about other organizations that work on truck safety issues. Assistance in locating materials and case law relevant to defending a truck accident victim. Some of these services are offered free of charge to victims, survivors and truck drivers. Others may obtain TREC information by becoming a member and paying an annual membership fee. Membership in TREC affords information obtained from the TREC library, database, referral service, and a complete handbook on transportation libraries and agencies. TREC members usually receive a full set of information from our libraries and database on the topic requested. A tax-deductible contribution made payable to The CRASH Foundation will not only provide the benefits of TREC membership, it also produces the satisfaction of fighting for survivors of truck crashes from coast to coast, and for stronger truck safety laws.
Contact: Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways CRASH Foundation PO Box 14380 Washington,DC 20044 http://www.trucksafety.org
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