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Large Truck Accidents

Accidents involving large trucks are among the most serious and most deadly in the United States. At Mills & Levine, we are familiar with the unique legal issues involved in handling these types of cases and have a thorough understanding of commercial vehicle regulations on both the federal and state level.

Trucking companies are required to follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations concerning their equipment and their drivers' hours of service.

In North Carolina, the Department of Transportation is also charged with the task of adopting regulations regarding the safety of motor carriers. N.C.G.S. § 20-381. The Division of Motor Vehicles must also periodically audit each motor carrier to determine if they are complying with state and federal regulations. N.C.G.S. § 20-379.

Driver fatigue is a common problem, as hours of service regulations are routinely violated. Careful examination of records after an accident often shows serious and even fraudulent violations of those safety regulations. However, trucking companies are only required to maintain many of those records for six months. Without obtaining those records before they

are destroyed, the injured person or survivors of a person killed in a truck wreck has a much more difficult time proving the trucking company's negligence.

The Dangers of Large Trucks

Tractor trailers and semi trucks are unique in their design and size, being much larger and heavier than other vehicles. Because large trucks are harder to maneuver and require extra braking time, they are more likely to roll or tip over on the road. In addition, truck drivers frequently work long hours, causing many of them to use stimulants and drugs to stay awake. When any of these factors contribute to an accident, the results can be devastating for other drivers.

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 61 percent of all passenger vehicles). Most of the fatal crashes involving large trucks occurred in rural areas (61%), during the daytime (67%), and on weekdays (81%). The percentage of large-truck drivers involved in fatal crashes who had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher was 1 percent in 2005.

In all automobile accident cases it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence, investigate the accident in question, and to enable physicians or other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate any injuries. If you or a loved one is a victim of an automobile accident, call Mills & Levine, Attorneys at Law now at 877-660-4357 toll free, 704-660-1770 local or CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A SIMPLE CASE FORM. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to accept your case, we will work on a contingent fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds. Don't delay! You may have a valid claim and be entitled to compensation for your injuries, but a lawsuit must be filed before the statute of limitations expires.
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