Hit And Run Truck Crash On I-81 Injures Two Others
Because of their size and speed, crashes involving large commercial trucks are especially dangerous and result in thousands of injuries and deaths across the country every year. The latest numbers from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation report that in 2010, there were 145 fatal crashes and 29,721 personal injury crashes involving large trucks in our state.
Commercial truckers are specially trained to operate their big rigs safely, and most of them do; in fact, nearly all of us drive near at least one large truck without incident every time we get on the freeway. However, unexpected accidents can happen at any time due to vehicle repair, weather or road conditions. Just like anyone else, many truckers engage in unsafe driving practices, such as aggressive or distracted driving. When any of these factors combine to create an accident between a semi-truck and a smaller passenger vehicle, tragedy often results.
Hit-And-Run Accident Injures Two Drivers In Franklin County
In November, a truck driver on Interstate 81 in Franklin County hit two cars parked on the shoulder, then overturned, reported Herald Mail Media. The driver ran from the crash, but authorities later found him in a convenience store restroom. The drivers of the smaller vehicles were hospitalized with serious injuries, and the trucker faces two counts of aggravated assault while driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a serious crash. In addition to the criminal counts the driver is charged with, he may also face liability for the medical costs of those he was responsible for injuring.
Alcohol use is one of the common reasons for large truck crashes, says the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Other risk factors include:
- Driver fatigue.
- Speeding.
- Road and weather conditions.
- Vehicle failure.
- Texting and driving.
- Eating while driving.
Trucks have unique challenges when it comes to speed and maneuverability, says Road Safe America. While smaller vehicles can slow down faster and swerve to avoid a hazard, truck drivers have a harder time avoiding dangers in the road and stopping in time to keep from getting into a crash. If a truck driver is driving negligently or intoxicated, the size of his vehicle combined with its speed and unwieldiness can be a recipe for a disaster.
Getting Help From An Attorney
Injuries caused by truck accidents are often severe and can take many months to recover from. If you’ve been injured by a trucker, you may be entitled to the compensation of your medical bills. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney for help.