| In the United States, some of the worst | | | | which trucking will become safer to both the |
| automobile accidents involve semi-trailers in | | | | drivers, the companies that employ them, and |
| some way. These large trucks are also known | | | | to other drivers on the road. Some possible |
| as big rigs, 18-wheelers, or tractor | | | | ideas for the future are to have rollover |
| trailers. There are a number of factors that | | | | warning alarms, collision avoidance systems, |
| lead to these dangerous and catastrophic | | | | or even a truck's version of a "black box" |
| crashes. The preventable causes of accidents | | | | data recorder. Any change will take time and |
| include driver fatigue, speed, substance | | | | money, however, something many companies are |
| abuse, overloaded freight, as well as many | | | | reluctant to put forth. Without improvements |
| others. An issue that can lead to accidents | | | | though, trucking court cases will continue to |
| that drivers do not have control over, | | | | be brought up against negligent truck drivers |
| however, is maneuverability and visibility. | | | | and the companies that they represent. The |
| Truck drivers are not able to see certain | | | | accidents mentioned above, along with others, |
| areas surrounding their truck and may | | | | have started people questioning the |
| therefore miss nearby traffic and merge into | | | | reliability of the commercial driver |
| it. Drivers also cannot maneuver the vehicle | | | | licensing system. Drivers already must meet |
| as fast as a small car, making some accidents | | | | higher safety standards than other vehicles, |
| harder to avoid. Safety should be paramount | | | | are subject to federal regulations that other |
| to any person in the truck driving | | | | vehicles aren't, and have are numerous rules |
| profession. Because of the sheer size of the | | | | that must be followed, such as log books and |
| vehicle, accidents involving big rigs are | | | | time sheets. In the event of litigation |
| often fatal to drivers of smaller cars. The | | | | against a driver, this information would be |
| freight that a truck is carrying also plays a | | | | invaluable to the defendant. Companies also |
| huge role. Some trucks carry volatile or | | | | require background checks and must |
| other harmful substances that can be | | | | continuously evaluate employees. The system, |
| extremely dangerous when released to the air | | | | rules, and procedures for a safe trucking |
| or jostled around. For example, a trailer | | | | company are known to many people, it is just |
| that was carrying black powder rolled over in | | | | getting the employees to obey those standards |
| Virginia in the recent past. This event, | | | | that is the problem. The number of |
| along with a 1999 train-truck accident in | | | | preventable accident causes greatly |
| Bourbonnais, Illinois have kept truck safety | | | | outnumbers the unpreventable ones when it |
| in the public's mind. The most basic debate | | | | comes to trucking. Truck drivers have a |
| occurring is simply trying to decide if | | | | responsibility to follow the regulations |
| trucks are a safe means of transport on the | | | | placed on them in order to create a safer |
| nation's highway system. Because so many | | | | highway system for everybody. |
| issues can be traced to driver error or | | | | |
| non-compliance, it is very difficult to gauge | | | | The Minneapolis Minnesota law firm of |
| what is meant by "safe." Trucking is most | | | | Schwebel Goetz and Sieben can provide a semi |
| likely here to stay, but the methods and | | | | truck accident attorney or lawyer to |
| tools used to make it possible need an | | | | Minneapolis MN semi truck injury victims. |
| improvement. Technology is one of the ways in | | | | |