It’s common to lose track of time, especially if you’re performing mundane tasks at work or when you’re out having fun with friends. That same sensation of “lost time” can also occur while driving. That's a phenomenon known as highway hypnosis or white-line fever. It happens when your brain takes over, and you drive as a matter of routine while losing touch with your surroundings. It is also a condition that can lead to accidents. Understanding Highway Hypnosis Highway hypnosis is best described as losing a sense of [...]
One of the most popular resolutions many people make each year is to get into better shape. Unfortunately, that pledge is hard for many to follow through on, and it can impact all aspects of society, including the trucking industry. According to data collected by the American Trucking Associations, there were 3.54 million truck drivers employed in the U.S. in 2022. The concern is that a poor diet could lead to poor driving behavior in truckers, and that translates into an increased risk of accidents. A study published [...]
Have you ever pulled up to the back of a semi-truck with a sign asking, “How am I driving?” That is usually accompanied by a phone number that will let you call the trucking company and tell them exactly how their employee is driving. According to the Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts 2020 report published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were 168,000 truck accidents that year, with 32% of those incidents involving injury and 3% involving fatalities. There is room for improvement. Given [...]
Even though they don’t happen as often as car crashes, truck accidents always make the news. That's especially true if the collisions trigger traffic jams and fiery explosions. Any time you get behind the wheel of your car, you need to be on alert for the potential for a wreck. When you approach a truck, you have to be extra diligent. It will help to know when, why, and where most truck accidents occur. Types of Roadways Where Tractor-Trailer Crashes Happen A good day for the Insurance Institute [...]
The many freeways and Interstates of the Pacific Northwest allow for massive amounts of commercial trucking, connecting us across the nation and around the world. An unfortunate reality of this, however, is that driving larger vehicles like commercial trucks (and sharing the road with them) can present unique challenges compared to smaller vehicles. While trucks are essential for transporting goods and heavy loads, their design and function inherently make them less stable. Below, we’ll explore why larger vehicles like trucks are less stable, emphasizing the key elements that [...]
Take into account the number 154,993. That’s the number of individuals injured in traffic accidents that involved semi-trucks in a single year, according to data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Reaching an agreement in a personal injury case helps bring a sense of closure to the plaintiff. Anyone involved in this type of incident will ask, “How long after a truck accident settlement do I get paid?” The answer depends on who is cutting the check and who is advocating for your cause. Five Steps [...]
Last year, a tractor-trailer flipped over on a Massachusetts highway, spilling over 10,000 gallons of gasoline, making it one of Massachusetts's costliest hazardous materials spills in the last decade. That incident sparked an investigation from CBS News that contained alarming statistics, including that "over the last 10 years, the number of big rig accidents involving hazardous materials has jumped two and a half times, an increase of 155%." Since there are over two million hazmat shipments daily in the U.S., drivers need to know about hazmat and hazardous [...]
How serious are accidents involving big rig trucks? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets the minimum amount of liability insurance that a trucker must carry is between $750,000 and $5,000,000 (depending on what's being transported). An accident claim can generate a remedy for the victims in that range of amounts and possibly even more if you factor in punitive damages. Understanding the difference between a truck accident settlement and a verdict could impact the final compensation number. The Verdict A verdict is the conclusion of a [...]
As you approach any work zone, traffic naturally seems to slow down. That is how it should go. Unfortunately, many motorists and truck drivers tend to ignore the warnings, which can lead to some serious collisions. How often do truck accidents happen in work zones? According to the National Workzone Safety Information Clearinghouse, there were a total of 96,000 work zone crashes in 2022. Of that number, 282 fatalities were caused by commercial vehicle crashes. Common Causes for Truck Accidents in Work Zones Work zones can involve projects [...]
In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word "semi" is defined as "partial or incomplete." It seems odd that there would be anything "semi" about a truck that weighs up to 80,000 pounds and can be over 70 feet long. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there were over 2.7 million registered tractor-trailers in our country in 2020, a number which has likely increased since then. So, why is it called a semi-truck? It's the Trailer In the northeast, folks call a semi-truck a tractor-trailer. In the south, they are [...]
