The East Coast is more developed and tightly populated than much of the rest of the country. The result of this congestion is that the highways that run across the area are very tightly packed. This means there is a greater density of drivers in the region than in other parts of the country, increasing the likelihood of accidents. When these accidents involve commercial trucks, the resulting damage is often serious.
Trucking accidents cause thousands of injuries every year, and because of the massive trailers and large loads they carry, the potential for serious, life-threatening accidents is increased. The size of the trucks and the loads they carry also means that more drivers can be impacted by accidents involving trucks, due to the potential for flying debris from the trailer, spilled cargo, and the number of space trucks take up on the road.
Unfortunately, many trucking companies are too lax in their safety standards and hiring practices, given how dangerous commercial trucking is. The result is that thousands of Americans are injured in trucking accidents every year. These injuries mean victims have to deal with emotional and physical pain and as well as financial hardship due to crushing medical debts, an inability to work, and car repairs.
Thankfully, personal injury laws exist to help families get back on track after they suffer from a crash involving a truck. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help them navigate the complex liability laws involving commercial vehicles to hold the appropriate parties responsible and get the compensation they deserve.
At McEldrew Young & Purtell, we’ve handled thousands of personal injury cases and have won millions for our clients. As experts in truck accident injury laws, we’ll take a look at some of the trucking companies that get in the larger number of accidents, so you know who to look out for when you’re on the road.
United Parcel Service
More commonly known as UPS, United Parcel Service, Inc. is one of the largest parcel transport companies in the country. Headquartered in Atlanta, they have a large fleet and nearly 100,000 drivers on the road. While they have a fairly low number of safety inspection violations, UPS drivers were involved in nearly 2,300 crashes, causing 800 injuries and 55 deaths.
FedEx Freight, Inc. is an Arizona based service that focuses on less-than-truckload shipping. They employ roughly 20,000 drivers, who were involved in almost 900 crashes, roughly 260 of which caused injuries. The accidents resulted in 26 deaths.
The Swift Transportation Co. of Arizona is another company that’s based out of the Grand Canyon State. Their business focuses on transporting truckload-sized freight. Their size is similar to that of FedEx, with roughly 20,500 drivers on the roster. Alarmingly, 15 percent of their vehicles were found to have violations during the inspection, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Their drivers were involved in around 1,800 crashes, roughly 520 of which caused injuries and 45 that caused deaths.
While not every trucking accident is serious, these statistics show how dangerous a truck-related crash can be.
Philadelphia Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffered because of a truck-involved crash, your best course of action is to consult an experienced law firm as soon as possible. Only a knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help you get compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial harm your family has suffered.
With over 30 years of personal injury law experience, McEldrew Young Purtell Merritt has the expertise to fully evaluate your legal case and get you the payout you deserve. To schedule a meeting for a free consultation, fill out our form or call us directly at 1-800-590-4116.