Tag Archive for: truck accidents

Truck Accidents

Reasons Trucking Accidents Are More Common During the Winter Months

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Truck accidents are an issue at every time of year, but they seem to peak in winter months. This is true even in warm areas like Montgomery, where we rarely see snow or ice. There are multiple reasons this is the case, and understanding these reasons can help us make the roads safer. It’s up to trucking companies to have reasonable expectations and up to personal drivers to take reasonable precautions when driving around tractor-trailers. Learn more about why truck accidents spike in winter.

If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident in Montgomery, the team at McPhillips Shinbaum is your next call. Let us help you fight for compensation and get what you deserve—call us at 334-262-1911 now.

The Challenges of Cross-County Driving During Winter

Taking cross-country hauls is a challenge year-round, but it puts even more stress on truck drivers during winter. Weather fluctuates a lot from region to region, and a truck driver must be ready to adjust to these changes multiple times in a single day. This is a lot of mental strain. For example, they may leave the warmth of Alabama and drive north for a delivery. Once they reach the central part of the country, they hit an ice storm with flurries. Suddenly, the speed they’ve been driving all day is too fast. They’re at risk of hitting other vehicles or losing control of their truck. Winter storms can go from mild to severe in the blink of an eye, and an already fatigued truck driver may struggle to adjust.

Increased Traffic

Most parts of the country see increased traffic throughout the winter months. This is due to the hustle and bustle of the holidays and the extra tasks and demands that come along with this time of year. Unfortunately, too many personal drivers don’t realize the demands of driving a tractor-trailer. They cut in front of tractor-trailers, hang out in their blind spot to the left or right, or fail to use their turn signal. The heavier the traffic is, the more stressful it is for a truck driver to keep themselves and others safe; they have to account both for their own potential errors and the errors that other drivers may make. When they don’t, other drivers are at risk of catastrophic injuries.

Constantly Changing Weather Forecasts

Winter weather is known for being inconsistent—even Montgomery sees its share of random ice flurries. For most people, that’s rarely an issue—they’re in the car to drive to and from work, or perhaps a family outing. In these situations, changing weather forecasts are an inconvenience and annoyance. To truck drivers, ever-evolving weather forecasts are a huge mental strain. Winter weather demands that truck drivers consistently check the forecast, adjust their driving accordingly, and somehow still accommodate their delivery schedule.

Extra Wear and Tear on Trucks

Winter weather and road conditions put extra strain on trucks. Frequent braking, extra pressure on tires, and an overworked engine trying to function in the cold can all cause issues. When a truck component fails, it may cause an accident. It can be impossible to predict these issues before they actually arise, leaving truck drivers in an unsafe position when they realize something is wrong with their vehicle.

Pressure From Employers

This factor is one that’s present year-round, but it is definitely worse during the holidays. Truck drivers are under constant pressure from their employers to get hauls done more quickly, get home fast enough to get another load, and avoid skipping days because of weather. Retailers and manufacturers are under intense deadlines, and they rely on truck drivers to help them meet those deadlines. Failing to deliver a load on time may result in a loss of pay, a lost bonus, or even termination. This puts truck drivers in the impossible position of either risking their livelihood or driving when they know it is unsafe to do so. When they choose the latter, accidents are likely to follow.

Reach Out to McPhillips Shinbaum to Start Your Truck Accident Case

Have you been injured in a Montgomery truck accident? If so, it’s time to find out if you are owed compensation. Let’s sit down and talk about your next steps. Reach out online or call us at 334-262-1911.

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Two Teenagers Die In Collision With Large Truck

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A West Alabama football player died in an automobile accident over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Nineteen-year-old Anthony Robinson was traveling with his 12-year-old cousin on Highway 43 near Robinson’s hometown of Linden, Alabama when both were killed in a collision with an 18-wheeler.

In 2009, large trucks logged nearly three billion miles and caused nearly four thousand deaths. Even after 10 years of decline, large trucks still killed 73 Alabamans in 2009. Fully loaded trucks are simply so huge that they are very difficult, if not impossible, to stop suddenly. Some of the serious or mortal injuries that may result from collisions between a large truck and a passenger car or light tuck include:

  • Burns. If the large truck’s diesel fuel happens to catch fire, the fire can be much hotter and much more intense than a gasoline fire. Severe burns can mean a series of painful skin grafts. Many patients do not survive this procedure. Even if they do survive, there may be permanent disfiguring scars and other permanent injuries.
  • Crushed body parts. Because a large truck has such a hard time stopping, it frequently pushes the other vehicle like a snow plow until both vehicles come to rest against a bridge or embankment, or some other hard and unforgiving surface. By the time the first responders arrive and free the trapped occupants, their legs or arms may have been crushed by the car as it collapsed around them.
  • Severe trauma injuries. Even if the occupants are wearing seat belts and the air bags properly deploy, the sudden force of the impact can frequently cause head, neck and spinal injuries.

The attorneys at McPhillips Shinbaum conduct their business according to one guiding principle: dignity. That commitment means that our attorneys always treat you with the respect you deserve, whether that means promptly returning your phone calls or being as prepared as we can possibly be before we go into court. Contact McPhillips Shinbaum to schedule your free consultation.