The Midwest is the most dangerous area in the nation for traffic accidents involving commercial trucks and buses, according to information released by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
FMCSA is sponsoring Truck and Bus Traffic Enforcement Training (TBTET) as the summer travel season gets underway. The law enforcement training program is free to interested departments and is designed to be given to road officers as a part-day training session, or in several segments during roll call.
Commercial Trucking Accidents a Serious Road Risk
The program is in response to the low number of traffic enforcement stops law enforcement is conducting on commercial truck and bus operators nationwide. Officers have cited lack of knowledge and experience as a primary reason for their reluctance to stop large commercial rigs.
Ohio is among three Midwestern states on the U.S. Department of Transportation's list of 10 most dangerous states for trucking collisions, along with Indiana and Illinois.
Experienced Columbus truck accident lawyers continue to see growing risks of commercial driving accidents on the road. In fact, federal statistics show the number of fatal trucking accidents have increased nationwide every year since 2009. In 2016, more than 4,500 motorists were killed in these collisions.
Liability & Damages in Ohio Trucking Accidents
Litigating accident cases involving commercial trucks is difficult. Trucking companies understand they are involved in a dangerous business, and they are among the most adept industries in the country when it comes to limiting liability. A freight company will often create multiple limited liability corporations to own and operate equipment and will hire independent contractors to operate rigs instead of driver-employees who would expose the company to additional liability in the event of an accident.
In many cases, corporations, drivers and insurance companies are all located in different states. When a lawsuit does result, these companies have the backing of some of the world's largest insurance companies and the best defense attorneys money can buy.
When you combine these challenges with the fact that those involved in accidents with large trucks typically suffer very serious or deadly injuries, it becomes readily apparent why it's essential to consult a Columbus truck accident lawyer experienced in handling personal injury or wrongful death litigation against commercial drivers and freight carriers.
In the event of a truck accident, contact Smith Law Office for a free consultation.
