Trucker Safety - What You Need to Know

Did you know that truck drivers had a larger total number of fatalities than any occupation? They experienced 12% of all work related deaths in a three-year period. They are five times more likely to die in a work-related accident than the average employee. Most of these deaths were on America's highways. These deaths are usually the result of a truck/passenger car encounter.

Drivers are also the victims of crime as a result of parking and spending rest time in dangerous areas. A number of deaths are caused by thieves targeting drivers for valuable cargo or money. When a driver has a flatbed truckload, they are responsible for securing their cargo and strapping it down. They often have to climb on the cargo and sometimes spread out tarps over that cargo. Tarps can weigh over 100 pounds with up to 3 tarps per load. Drivers sometimes die from injuries incurred in a fall.

Drivers spend long hours behind the wheel. This can strain the back muscles. Some drivers must unload their cargoes. This can lead to back strains and sprains, further tiring out a driver.

Injured and tired drivers can be a danger to themselves on the road and to people in other vehicles.

In a 1985 study, it was found that 57% of all truck accidents are due solely to driver factors, another 27% to roadway and driver problems, 6% to combined driver and vehicle problems, 3% to roadway factors, 3% to combined driver, vehicle, and roadway problems, another 2% to vehicle factors alone, and 1% to combined vehicle and roadway factors.

The Young Firm in New Orleans understands the serious nature of automobile and truck accidents and the injuries that can result. Our firm will investigate the causes of any accident and pursue appropriate legal action.

Call a Louisiana car and truck accident attorney today at (866) 660-7220 for a free and confidential consultation if you have been involved in a car accident or an accident with a truck.