Experienced travelers know to give big rigs a wide berth on the highways and freeways. When accidents happen, it’s often those behind the wheels of smaller vehicles, or even non-motorists, who suffer the worst damage, both to health and property.
In 2015, there were approximately 480,000 crashes on American roads involving large trucks and buses according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). That’s about one crash every 65 seconds, ranging from minor scrapes all the way to fatal pile-ups.
Statistically speaking, you’re very likely to survive any such accident with a truck or bus; only about 4,000 of those 480,000 crashes resulted in a fatality. Even so, while you might count your blessings for living through such a nightmare, that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear, financially. The total bill for all those half a million bus and truck accidents? $118 billion in 2015 alone – a number that’s been on the rise since 2012.
Who’s liable in Bus and Truck Accidents?
As with any vehicular accident, both sides in a bus and truck accident will likely lay the blame for it on the other party (or no one). There are times, however, when the accident is clearly the fault of the trucker or trucking company. When that happens, the trucker is usually inattentive (35% of the time) or driving too aggressively (42% of the time), according to the FMCSA’s Large Truck Crash Causation Study from 2008. A lesser factor is the condition of the truck, including brakes and tires, or independent factors, like weather or road condition.
You can’t account for everything a negligent bus driver or trucker might do to cause an accident, but there are steps you can take to make you and your passengers safer when driving near a big truck or bus.
- Big rigs have many blind spots, especially around the driver’s side just behind the cab and the two lanes to the right and directly behind the passenger’s side. Directly behind and in front of the truck are also part of a truck’s “No Zone.”
- Buses and especially big rigs make wide turns, so give them as much room as you can, especially on narrow streets.
- Buses and trucks have longer stopping times than cars, as do vehicles of all kinds when road conditions are poor. Don’t cut in front of a truck, and follow a good distance behind – two seconds, at least – when following a truck.
Hopefully, you’ll never experience a collision with a big truck or bus. If you do, however, and you need help stabilizing things while you recover and your lawsuit is pending – USClaims may be able to help. If you’re having trouble meeting your expenses while waiting for a legal settlement or a judgment related to a bus and/or truck accident, USClaims can help provide the financial support you need.
At USClaims, we offer pre-settlement funding, if a case is qualified for pre-settlement funding then we would purchase a portion of the proceeds of the anticipated court judgment or settlement for some cash now. USClaims only gets paid if a case is won or has reached a settlement! Apply now or call us today at 1-877-USCLAIMS to learn more.
