Every day, millions of vehicles travel many miles over the roadways in the United States. These vehicles not only transport people, but also cargo. Transporting cargo is essential to our economy. Because of this, there is a continuing growing demand for trucking services. Reports indicate that as much as 80 percent of the nation's cargo is transported by the trucking industry.
With this demand, passenger vehicles are being forced to share the roads with 18 wheelers and tractor trailers. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), one in 10 highway deaths occurs in a crash involving a large truck. In 2015, 3,852 people died in large truck crashes.
However, passenger vehicle occupants are not the only individuals at risk. According to Trucks.com, approximately 745 truck drivers were killed on the job in 2016, and most of these work-related deaths were caused by traffic collisions. This makes a truck driver's job one of the deadliest occupations in America. In fact, over the past five years, truck driver fatalities have risen 11.2 percent. Experts in the trucking industry believe the increased reliance on trucks to transport goods is related to the rise of online shopping and demands for rapid delivery.
Most truck drivers strive to be safe drivers, but it is important to understand that they cannot control the other vehicles on the highway. Truck drivers have a duty to operate their big rigs in a manner that is safe, but also depend on all of us to operate our vehicles safely around them.
Truck Accident Attorneys Serving Harrisburg, Lancaster, Wilkes-Barre and All of PA
Whether you are a truck driver who was injured while on the job or a person who was injured in an accident with truck, you can count on Metzger Wickersham to provide sound legal advice. Our attorneys have decades of experience representing both truck drivers and passengers of smaller vehicles. Often, injured truck drivers may have a workers' compensation claim.
Your chances of securing a fair settlement for your losses are only as strong as the legal team you have by your side. Our personal injury truck crash attorneys can review your case and recommend the best course of action. Contact Metzger Wickersham today for a free consultation.