Accident on Carroll Cropper Bridge Reminds of Toll of Large Truck Accidents in Kentucky

Truck accidents often have the most catastrophic results. Such was the case recently in Kentucky, when a mother and her daughter, a college freshman, were tragically killed after being rear-ended by a tractor trailer on the Carroll C. Cropper Bridge.

Media reports say the family’s vehicle was stopped on the bridge when the collision occurred and burst into flames upon impact. The truck driver was uninjured, and the cause of the crash is under investigation.

Disturbingly, these types of truck accidents are on the rise in the United States. The most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that 78 people were killed in accidents involving large truck in Kentucky in 2013 and many more suffered serious injuries. Most of those injured or killed were the occupants of the other vehicles.

It’s not surprising that tractor trailer accidents often result in the worst injuries. A passenger car is simply no match for a vehicle weighing tens of thousands of pounds. The violence of impact means that those who survive the collisions are more likely to suffer life-altering traumas including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, internal organ damage and multiple broken bones.  The resulting medical bills can be staggering for families, both immediately and for the long term.

Why You Need To Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer Quickly

It’s important to contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible following a truck accident – and certainly before talking to an insurance company. Insurers can be very persuasive and many times people in the midst of stressful situations settle for much less than they deserve. A good lawyer can do the legwork for you to prevent companies from taking advantage of you during a difficult situation.

Another reason why you need to act quickly after an accident with a big rig is to preserve evidence. The trucking industry is governed by a network of complex local, state and federal laws. Truckers must adhere to rules ranging from how long they are behind the wheel and what prescription drugs they can take to performing regular safety inspections and keeping detailed logs of their trips.

Similarly, trucking companies are responsible for making sure that they hire qualified drivers and that their vehicles are properly maintained, among many other duties. Determining who may be held responsible for your large truck accident will take time for your attorney and accident reconstruction specialists to unravel. That window of time may be very short, because truck companies only have to keep their records for a couple of months.

Common Causes of Truck Crashes

The common causes of truck accidents may include speeding, aggressive driving distracted driving and drunk or drugged driving. In recent years, the spotlight has been placed on driver fatigue as a common cause of large truck wrecks, prompting regulators to adopt changes in the hours-of-service rules that dictate how long drivers can stay on the roads before taking rest breaks.

Other causes are more specific to the trucking industry, including reported cases of employers placing extra pressure on drivers to deliver their loads early for extra incentives or failing to perform routine maintenance to prevent tire blowouts and other mechanical problems.

There also is the possibility that other unrelated parties may be partially or fully responsible for a truck crash, such as product manufacturers. A defective or ill-designed auto part that contributes to a crash means that you may have a products liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor, retailer or others.

Families face many uncertainties in the wake of a large truck accident, or any accident that results in severe injuries. Kentucky has laws in place to protect your rights and help you recover compensation. Although it may seem tempting to take whatever the insurance company is offering just so they stop calling, please talk to a lawyer first. Initial consultations in these types of cases are free at the Frank Jenkins Law Office, so contact us today.