The Office of Crash Avoidance Research determined there were 1.6 million tractor trucks and 3.6 million tractor truck trailers in use. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported on these figures on tractor trailer trucks, whose accidents are ever-increasing.
Also, there were 7.9 million registered heavy trucks in United States, which is 4 percent of all registered vehicles, according to statistics compiled by the NHTSA.
Heavy duty trucks are considered those with a weight greater than 10,000 pounds. Heavy trucks are involveved in an array of traffic accidents, with this number ever increasing. These can also include rollover accidents and. Although rollover accidents are not as frequent, they can result in more damage to the vehicle and more injury to the driver.
Improving Tractor Trailer Truck Technology
Many are working to improve technology of the tractor trailer trucks and commercial trucks to improve safety. Due to unavoidable constraints among current combination-unit truck trailer electrical powering and communications systems, there is becoming an increase in mechanical failures causing truck crashes.
The NHTSA has developed the Truck Multiplexing (TruckMux) project to better equip truck drivers with communications and technology between the tractor and the trailer, because truck accidents can frequently occur due to a loss of control between the two units. Other items that are also being worked on to better improve tractor-trailer trucks and thus decrease the number of accidents associated, include:
* advanced lighting multiplex modules
* trailer air brake reservoir low pressure
* brake status
* air suspension pressure and height
These are just a few of the technological issues that can cause a tractor-trailer truck accident, however, there are a plethora of reasons that a tractor-trailer truck accident can occur. For example, a study from the Large Truck Crash Causation Study from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, NHTSA and U.S Department of Transportation (DOT) discovered that there are two different categories of truck accidents: the environment and unforeseen conditions, including driver/driving conditions.
Some driver conditions include:
* traveling too fast for conditions
* driver fatigue
* aggressive driving behavior
* illness, conversation
* alcohol, drug or prescription drug use
The NHTSA has also developed a 10-year study to better determine the trends of heavy truck accidents. According to the study, the increase of truck accidents is occurring, and while many more individuals involved in accidents are wearing seatbelts/restraints, the fatalities associated with heavy truck accident/tractor trailer truck accidents is increasing.
Avoiding Harm After a Tractor Trailer Truck Accident
If involved in a tractor-trailer truck accident, it is imperative that, whether injuries are visible or not, an individual seek medical attention immediately. As some injuries may be internal, it is important to ensure all potential conditions are thoroughly reviewed by a physician. Additionally, it may be necessary for an individual to consult with a tractor-trailer truck accident attorney on the specifics of developing a truck accident lawsuit.
Often, medical bills as well as additional costs of missing work, school, etc., are associated with being involved in a tractor-trailer truck accident, which is why it may be necessary to develop truck accident litigation and pursue compensation for the injury incurred.
