Semi Truck Safety Comes into Question
In the early morning hours of June 7, 2014, a limousine carrying famed comedian Tracy Morgan was struck from behind by a semi truck driver who had allegedly been speeding 20 miles per hour over the limit. In the criminal complaint filed by police, officials also state that the driver of the Wal-Mart semi truck was close to exceeding the allotted time as established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
According to a National Transportation Safety Board report, the semi truck driver either dozed off or was too tired to notice two warning signs as he approached a construction zone: one of which informed him of lanes closing and another that reduced the speed limit from 55 miles per hour to 45 miles per hour. Failing to brake in time, the semi truck rear-ended the limousine and allegedly pushed it into several other cars, causing a multiple-vehicle accident.
Driver Fatigue Can Lead to Fatal Accidents
Semi truck accidents can often be caused due to negligence on the part of the driver, the trucking company or other third party. These incidents may occur due to inadequate truck maintenance, speeding, driving under the influence, a defective part such as faulty brakes or tires or even an inadequate truck inspection. However, according to the FMCSA, 20 percent of all semi truck accidents occur due to driver fatigue.
Unfortunately, there have been cases where a truck driver may feel pressed for time or that he or she would be reprimanded if he or she followed the semi truck safety regulations set forth by the FMCSA. As a result, the truck driver may be more inclined to drive past the allowed hours, thus increasing the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel and causing a semi truck accident.
New Semi Truck Safety Data Released by FMCSA
A semi truck safety study conducted by the FMCSA shows that semi trucks that are equipped with electronic hours of service recorders are significantly safer than commercial vehicles that do not feature these devices. As a result of ongoing pressure from trucking companies to keep this technology off of semi trucks, the FMCSA launched the study to determine if EHOS recorders presented any benefits.
The conclusions reaffirmed what the agency and many others believed regarding semi truck safety: EHSR-equipped vehicles were involved in 53 percent fewer violations involving hours of service. Additionally, these semi trucks had lower crash rates than trucks that do not us them.
Attorney Group for Kansas Can Help You Today
If you or someone you love has been injured in a semi truck accident in Kansas and you would like to learn more about pursuing a claim for compensation, contact Attorney Group for Kansas today. We can help answer your questions and connect you with one of our affiliated Kansas semi truck attorneys who can assist you in filing your lawsuit.
