Large trucks, including tractor trailers, with a gross weight more than 10,000 pounds account for a disproportionately large share of traffic deaths based on miles traveled. Fatalities from large truck or tractor trailer crashes have increased approximately 10 percent from 1995 through 1998, moving up from 4,918 deaths in 1995 to 5,374 deaths in 1998. The 5.374 deaths in 1998 represented thirteen percent of all traffic fatalities.

The fatal crash rate for large trucks is 2.6 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. This staggering statistic is more than 50 percent greater than the rate for all vehicles on the roads. Tractor trailers and large trucks are also more likely to get into multiple vehicle accidents, nearly 80 percent of all large truck accidents involve more than one vehicle.

Studies show that driver fatigue plays a role in large truck crashes and that drivers are more likely to crash after many long hours of driving. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implemented new rules in 2003, even though truck drivers united to protest the rules. The compliance date for these rules was January 4, 2004. The revised Hours of Service regulations include allowing truck drivers to drive 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off-duty. Truck drivers may not drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on-duty, following 10 hours off-duty. Truck drivers may not drive after being on-duty for 60 hours in a seven-consecutive-day period or 70 hours in an eight-consecutive-day period. This on-duty cycle may be restarted whenever a driver takes at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty. Surveys reveal that many drivers of large trucks violated the old regulations on hours of service; it is yet to be determined whether there is widespread compliance with the new regulations.

Underride Tractor Trailer Accidents

Tractor-Trailer underride accidents occur when the front of a small passenger car contacts the rear or side of a truck trailer. The small passenger car is less than 30 inches above the ground, while the bed of the truck trailer is usually more than 45 inches off the ground. The passenger vehicle can go under or underride the trailer, causing serious injuries to the occupants of the passenger vehicle.

Standards have been put into place that require tractor-trailers designed after 1993 to be outfitted with reflective tape on both the rear and sides. Also, tractor-trailers designed after 1996 must have a rear bumper equipped at 22 inches above the ground. However, there are still thousands of tractor-trailers lacking proper safety underride additions.

Regardless of how equipped a tractor-trailer may be to prevent an underride accident, fatalities from underrides continue to occur. Reflective tape and adequate bumper heights are not enough to protect the drivers of passenger vehicles. These are some of the most fatal accidents, and many are caused by negligent trailer design, fatigued truck drivers and poorly trained drivers.

If you or a loved one were injured in a tractor-trailer underride accident, contact our accident laywers today for a free and confidential case evaluation.