Manchester Truck Accident Lawyers

With more online shopping and trucks carrying most of the nation’s cargo, there are more trucks on the roadways now than ever before. This has brought an increase in the number of truck accidents, and the number of fatalities. Passenger vehicle occupants are likely to suffer serious injuries in a collision with a semi tractor-trailer. If you have been hurt or lost a loved one in a truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to seek compensation for your losses.

Who Is Liable for Truck Accidents in Manchester?

New Hampshire is a fault state for automobile accidents. Parties at fault for a crash can be held liable for the injuries they cause. Truck accident cases may involve multiple potentially liable parties:

• Truckers have a legal responsibility to operate their big rigs safely at all times. They have a duty to ensure their trucks are properly repaired, regularly maintained, and properly loaded. When they fail in any of these responsibilities, they can be liable for resulting damages.
• Trucking companies may be vicariously liable for the negligence of the truck drivers they employ. As employers, they may be negligent in hiring unqualified drivers, failing to provide proper training, failing to enforce regulations, or encouraging drivers to violate hours of service rules to meet delivery deadlines.
• Cargo must be loaded properly for semi-trucks to be driven safely. A third party who loaded a truck may be held liable if overloading, underloading, or improperly loading and securing of cargo contributed to a crash.
• Equipment failure from defective components or parts can cause truck accidents. In that case, the manufacturer of the faulty part may be held accountable in a product liability claim.

What Are the Most Recent Truck Accident Statistics?

For the most recent year for which statistics are available, the following data about truck accidents is reported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• 5,005 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes, representing a 2% increase from the previous year.
• 119,000 large trucks were involved in injury crashes, representing a 6% increase from the previous year.
• The number of fatal crashes involving large trucks or buses increased by 47% between 2009 and 2019.
• Large truck and bus injury crashes increased by 13% from 2016 to 2019.
• 71% of people killed in large truck accidents were occupants of other vehicles.
• Truck drivers involved in fatal crashes had a higher percentage of previous crashes (22.9% higher) than passenger vehicle drivers and motorcycle riders.
• Nearly 20% of all truck drivers involved in fatal crashes had at least one prior conviction for speeding.
• 77% of fatal truck accidents occurred on weekdays – between 6:00 a.m. Monday and 5:59 p.m. Friday.
• 4.2% of large trucks in New Hampshire were involved in fatal crashes.

What Are the Main Causes of Truck Accidents?

Truck accidents can occur for many different reasons, including road hazards and inclement weather. In many cases, some type of negligence contributes to the crash. Common causes of truck accidents include:

• Driver fatigue
• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Reckless driving behavior (speeding, tailgating, unsafe lane changes)
• Poorly maintained vehicles
• Improperly loaded cargo

After a serious truck accident, it is important to speak with an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible. At the Russell Friedman Law Group, we have a passion for justice and a reputation for excellence. Our Manchester personal injury lawyers are known for our integrity and honesty and for our creative solutions and results-driven representation.

Contact us today at (603) 716-9415 to schedule a free consultation with a Manchester truck accident lawyer.