In the United States, our economic well being is based in large part on exports and imports. The commercial trucking industry serves as our primary facilitator of the exporting and importing of goods. While commercial trucking may be a necessary component to our economy and way of life, the industry does come with some safety risks. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, approximately 4,136 Americans died in commercial trucking accidents throughout 2018 alone. If you or a loved one suffer serious injuries in a collision with a commercial truck driver, you need to quality legal representation.

Examining Commercial Trucking Accidents and Injuries

Due to the sheer size of commercial trucks, the overwhelming majority of fatalities in these collisions occur to passengers in standard motor vehicles. Whether your loved one was severely injured or killed in an accident, it is important to seek legal action in a prudent manner. In many of these instances, the negligence of the commercial truck driver was the ultimate cause of the collision. The most common forms of truck driver negligence include drinking and driving, distracted driving, and exceeding their hour restrictions resulting in drowsy driving. In other instances an employer may overload a commercial truck or fail to properly maintain the vehicle, resulting in an increased risk of an accident.

How an Attorney Can Help

When accidents involve corporations, it is common for the company to treat you unfairly. The company may offer you a significantly lower settlement than what you deserve or deny any fault in the collision. An experienced legal expert will work to investigate the accident and prove that the driver or employer acted in a negligent manner. With a skilled attorney at your side, the threat of a trial will present a serious risk to the company’s reputation and finances, because of this they are more likely to offer a fair settlement. A serious injury can result in loss of income and significant medical expenses, working with an attorney you can trust, can ensure that your family receives the compensation you need.

Throughout the United States, tens of thousands of motorcyclists are involved in motor vehicle collisions each and every year. Tragically, according to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 4,985 motorcyclists were fatally injured in accidents throughout 2018 alone. Injuries tend to be more severe among motorcyclists in collisions involving a standard motor vehicle because of the lack of protection they have. If you or a loved one are injured in a motorcycle collision, it is time to seek legal assistance.

Negligence and Motorcycling

Due to the exciting nature of motorcycling, some motorcyclists operate their vehicle in a negligent or reckless manner. The most common forms of motorcycle negligence include swerving in between lanes of traffic, riding at excessive speeds, following other vehicles too closely, and illegally passing. These forms of negligence can lead to both rear-end and head-on collisions. If a motorcyclist is swerving in and out of lanes of traffic, it can make spotting the motorcyclist more difficult for other drivers. It should also be noted that drinking and driving is an increasingly common form of motorcycle negligence. According to the NHTSA, an incredible 28% of motorcyclists killed throughout 2017, were legally drunk.

Securing Compensation

Unfortunately, because of the above statistics, there is a prejudice by the general public that a motorcyclist who has been injured in a crash must have caused the accident. The reality is that the majority of motorcycle drivers are keenly aware of the dangers and operate in a safe manner. The majority of crashes are actually caused by other drivers and not motorcyclists.

Today, distracted driving has become one of the leading traffic safety concerns throughout the United States. Distracted driving can come in a number of forms including texting and driving, consuming food or beverages while driving, or any action that will take a driver’s hands off the wheel or eyes off the road. Despite the fact that distracted driving is inherently dangerous, thousands of Americans make the reckless decision to drive while distracted. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you need the help of a qualified legal professional.

Is Distracted Driving Really that Dangerous?

With the sheer number of distracted drivers on American roadways, it is natural to wonder how much of a health hazard distracted driving is. The short answer is simply that distracted driving is one of the leading causes of motor vehicle collisions and traffic fatalities in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving resulted in approximately 2,841 fatalities throughout 2018 alone. While the vast majority of these deaths were drivers and passengers, an alarmingly high number of pedestrians (400) and bicyclists (77) were killed by the reckless actions of distracted drivers.

The dangers of distracted driving are multifaceted, taking your hands off of the wheel will impact your ability to operate a vehicle safely, while taking your eyes away from the road will impact your reaction time. Studies conducted by the NHTSA state that reading or sending a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. If the driver is traveling at 55 mph or higher, they will be driving blind for at least 100 yards.

Throughout the United States, rear-end collisions are the most common form of motor vehicle accidents. While most people think that rear-end collisions only result in minor vehicular damage and no injuries, nearly 500,000 of the 2 million annual rear-end collisions nationwide result in injury. Equally concerning is the fact that an average of 1,700 Americans die each year in rear-end collisions. Below we will examine some of the most common injuries associated with rear-end collisions, as well as discussing the importance of seeking legal consultation in the aftermath of an accident.

Severe Rear-End Collision Injuries

Due to the fact that a rear-end collision often takes a victim by surprise, the injuries can be increasingly severe. Even if you are able to walk away from the accident, it wise to seek out medical attention. One of the most common injuries associated with rear-end collisions is a concussion. In many instances, a person suffering from a traumatic brain injury will not experience symptoms of the injury for some time, but if left untreated a concussion can come with long-term health ramifications. If you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, or a headache, you need to seek out medical attention immediately.

In other instances, the symptoms of a serious injury will show up immediately after a rear-end collision. Injuries such as broken ribs, damage to the spine, and other bone fractures, can cause immediate discomfort. Due to the jerking motion associated with most rear-end collisions, spinal cord injuries are some of the most common injuries in rear-end accidents. Whether you have suffered from a spinal cord fracture or are experiencing minor whiplash symptoms you may still face loss of income, significant medical expenses, and chronic pain. Fortunately, a knowledgeable personal injury attorney can work to ensure that you and your family receive the compensation you need to recover from any and all injuries suffered.

For parents, there is nothing more important than protecting our children. Unfortunately, some accidents can be caused by the negligent actions of another party. This is especially true as it pertains to motor vehicle collisions. Tragically, car accident injuries to children can be increasingly severe due to their smaller stature. Injuries to a child can result in chronic pain and even impact their physical and mental development. If your child has been injured in a motor vehicle collision, it is time to speak with a knowledgeable attorney.

Alarming Information on Child Injuries

Despite numerous safety measures in place to keep our children safe, the amount of children injured in car accidents each year is alarmingly high. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 116,000 American children were injured in motor vehicle collisions throughout 2017 alone. Of those injured children, approximately 675 ultimately died due to their injuries. For parents, the biggest step one can take is properly restraining your child. Studies conducted by the CDC found that 35% of all children that were fatally injured in car accidents throughout 2017, were not properly restrained.

The sad reality though is many children suffer injuries even when they are properly restrained in a booster seat, car seat, or standard seat belt system. The most common injuries to children in car accidents are head, chest, organ, and back injuries. In other words, many of these injuries can have a life-long impact on a child. If a child suffers severe brain trauma in a car accident, their brain development can be stunted or permanently altered. Similar issues can occur in spinal and back injuries, impacting mobility for an extended period of time.