Here in the United States, thousands of commercial truck drivers travel on the roads each day to deliver their cargo. Commercial trucking is a massive industry nationwide, and it is an integral aspect of interstate commerce. However, due to the sheer number of semi-trailer trucks on the road, accidents and collisions are inevitable. 

When a commercial truck driver collides with a standard motor vehicle, the injuries suffered by drivers and passengers are often incredibly severe, and in many cases, they are fatal. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), more than 4,700 Americans were killed in motor vehicle collisions involving commercial trucks in 2017. If a member of your family suffers injuries in a commercial trucking accident, you may be entitled to significant injury compensation. 

Identifying Negligence in Truck Accidents

Just like in any other car accident case, in a motor vehicle collision involving a commercial truck, the victim’s attorney must be able to prove that the other party’s negligence ultimately led to the collision. However, a commercial trucking accident may differ from other car accident cases in that negligence does not only have to come in the form of driver error. 

Trucking accidents are often devastating to victims and their families. Many must undergo extensive medical treatment, will miss a lot of time at work, or may even find themselves permanently disabled. In these situations, victims may be owed compensation. Unfortunately, obtaining it is not always easy. Victims must bear the burden of proof. Further, they may need to pin down exactly who caused the accident – was it the trucker, the company, or a third-party loading company? This is where an investigation comes in.

The Anatomy of an Investigation

Investigations for trucking accidents go much further than simply determining how or why the accident occurred. It also establishes fault. Everything from the truck’s black box, driving logs, maintenance logs, and load information is studied and examined. Intoxication tests, training certifications, copies of licenses, employment history of the driver, and results of the road test are also included in the investigation process. The point is to ensure that victims pursue compensation, not just from one at-fault party, but all of them.

Often, victims and their families assume that semi-truck accidents and car crashes are treated the same. There are some major differences, however. In some cases, this can make winning compensation more difficult. In other ways, it can increase the amount that a victim or their family may be owed. Learn more about how semi accidents are different from car crashes, and why it matters, with help from the following information.

Truck Drivers Are Held to a Higher Standard

Semi-truck drivers are required to train for and obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). To maintain their licensing status, CDL holders must also undergo regular physicals and drug screenings. As such, they are held to a higher standard than typical drivers; they are expected to understand the risk that they and their vehicles pose to other drivers, and to act accordingly.

According to the AAA Foundation, as many as 300,000 automobile accidents each year may be caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Moreover, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that around 1,200 annual deaths are attributed to drowsy driving. Though not responsible for all of the crashes, commercial drivers are thought to make up a considerable portion of these accidents. However, if the government moves forward with mandatory sleep apnea testing for truck drivers, bus drivers, and rail workers, that may all soon change.

Sleep Apnea in the United States

A recent study from the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety, in which almost one-third of drivers admitted to having trouble keeping their eyes open while driving, tells us what we already know: we live in a sleep deprived society. For some, it is a matter of lifestyle or over-extension of our schedules. But for more than 25 million Americans, the problem is likely attributed to sleep apnea—a silent, and often untreated condition.

The injuries to motorists involved in commercial trucking accidents can often be catastrophic. Therefore, the financial recovery available in these cases can be substantial. However, before an injured accident victim can receive compensation in his or her case, he or she must first present evidence to prove the different aspects of their claim.

Evidence must be discovered, gathered, and presented to the court in accordance with Wisconsin law, and identifying proper evidence can be complex and confusing. Still, presenting the right evidence to prove a truck accident claim is imperative to an accident victim's recovery.

Proving Negligence