Semi Truck Safety Discussion Growing
A semi truck accident in New Jersey has recently taken the country by storm. On June 7, 2014, a limousine carrying comedian Tracy Morgan and six other passengers was rear-ended by a Wal-Mart semi truck in the early morning hours. One individual was killed while three others, Morgan included, were in critical condition. Morgan has since been released from the hospital and is involved in rehabilitation for his injuries.
The semi truck driver, however, is currently facing felony charges, and a criminal complaint filed by officials accuse the driver of staying awake for more than 24 hours immediately before the accident – a clear violation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s regulations. According to reports, the driver did not acknowledge signs that warned of closed lanes and reduced speed as he approached a construction zone. He was allegedly unable to brake in time and slammed into the back of the limousine, causing a multiple-vehicle accident.
Driver Fatigue is One of the Most Common Causes of Accidents
Semi truck accidents can occur due to:
- Speeding
- Attempting to meet unreasonable delivery demands
- Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
- Failing or defective parts such as brakes or tires
- Poor road conditions
- Improperly or overloaded cargo
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue
The most common of these, driver fatigue, is responsible for 20 percent of all semi truck accidents in the U.S. each year, according to the FMCSA. In an attempt to meet deadlines, a driver may neglect to adhere to the semi truck safety regulations set forth by the FMCSA that specify the number of hours that a driver is allowed to consecutively travel as well as mandatory break and sleep times.
FMCSA Reports that Electronic Logging Devices May Lower Number of Semi Truck Accidents
In an effort to determine whether electronic hours of service recorders are beneficial for semi truck safety, the FMCSA recently released results from a semi truck safety study in which the agency found that semi trucks equipped with these devices were 53 percent less likely to be involved with hours of service violations. The FMCSA has recently been facing mounting pressure from trucking companies across the U.S. that feel that these logging devices are not useful and may be an added expense without many semi truck safety benefits.
The Mississippi Injury Group is Here to Help
If you or someone you love has been injured in a semi truck accident in Mississippi and you believe that the accident was caused by driver fatigue or any other negligence by another, contact Attorney Group for Mississippi to learn more about your legal options. We can help answer your questions and put you in contact with one of our affiliated attorneys in Mississippi who can help you seek damages to which you may be entitled. There is no cost to speak with us, so please contact us today for more information.
