Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney

Tractor-Trailer Accident Facts

Every year, nearly 500,000 large trucks ( tractor-trailers or "semis" ) are involved in traffic accidents in the United States.
One out of every eight traffic fatalities is caused by a collision with a tractor-trailer.

Not surprisingly, most of the deaths and injuries involve the passengers of the vehicles struck by tractor-trailers. Semi truck drivers typically escaped unscathed. Ninety-eight percent (98%) of the people who die in semi crashes are the people in the small passenger vehicles.
Approximately 5,000 people die in semi trailer truck accidents each year.
The Federal government requires tractor-trailer and other large truck operators to acquire a commercial driver's license and undergo limited drug and alcohol testing. However, many truck safety advocates question the effectiveness of the licensing and testing program.
A more pressing matter, according to safety experts, is tractor-trailer driver fatigue. Numerous studies have shown that fatigued semi drivers play a major part in big tractor-trailer crashes. Some researchers, including the National Transportation Safety Board and Triple A have found that nearly 50% of semi truck crashes are due to fatigue. For more information about driver fatigue visit CRASH - Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways.
New rules implemented in 2003 by The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) allow drivers to drive 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off-duty. Also, drivers may not drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on-duty, following 10 hours off-duty. Similar to existing rules, drivers may not drive after being on-duty for 60 hours in a seven-consecutive-day period or 70 hours in an eight-consecutive-day period. This on-duty cycle may be restarted whenever a driver takes at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty.
Short-haul semi truck drivers - those drivers who routinely return to their place of dispatch after each duty tour and then are released from duty - may have an increased on-duty period of 16 hours once during any seven-consecutive-day period. The 16-hour exception takes into consideration legitimate business needs without jeopardizing safety. FMCSA estimates that without the extra two on-duty hours, the industry would be required to hire at least 48,000 new tractor-trailer drivers, actually reducing crash-reduction benefits.

The current rule allows 10 hours of driving within a 15-hour on-duty period after eight hours of off-duty time. Also, drivers may not drive after their 15th hour on duty in a workday or after 60 hours on-duty in seven consecutive days or 70 hours on-duty in eight consecutive days.
The FMCSA estimates the new rule will save up to 75 lives and prevent as many as 1,326 fatigue-related crashes annually.
With the pressure to deliver their loads, however, tractor-trailer drivers often continue when prudence suggests otherwise. In a recent survey, 20% of long-haul tractor-trailer truck drivers admitted to falling asleep at the wheel within the past month!

If you have an injury or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident involving a tractor-trailer or other large truck, it is important to consider your legal options. We may be able to help you with your lawsuit case and settlement. Many truckers are employed by large corporations that may put delivery of their goods ahead of your safety.

Over the years, our firm has had the opportunity to assist in truck accident cases nationwide getting clients the claims they deserve. Throughout Florida, our practice encompasses Pensacola, Santa Rosa County, Panama City, Escambia, Calhoun, Gulf, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington Bay, Jackson, and Tallahassee, FL, and our work extends to Mobile, Alabama and other communities in the southeastern United States. There are few truck accident attorneys in the country who are better prepared to help people injured in semi, tractor trailer or truck accidents.