With a major highway such as Interstate 80 cutting through Cheyenne and across southern Wyoming, it’s no wonder that we see so many semi-trucks on any given day. I-80 is a main east-west roadway that allows for goods to be transported across the country, and with the daily influx of large trucks, comes the danger of accidents.
We’ve all seen it, big rigs on the side of the highway with other smaller cars pinned underneath or on the front. The aftermath is distressing, not only physically for those involved, but financially and emotionally for the families.
If you or someone you know has suffered injuries or damages due to the negligence of a large truck driver, an experienced Cheyenne truck accident lawyer is ready to help you seek the compensation owed to you. Contact us for a free consultation with one of our law office’s attorneys.
What Are the Causes Tractor-Trailer Crashes in Wyoming?
While there are of course many reasons why a large truck might cause a collision in the Equality State, some of the main contributing factors our office has seen are:
Driver Fatigue
Although the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCA) limits the number of hours a truck driver can work, truck drivers will often still push the limits of these restrictions or even break the law by continuing to work past their federally allotted time. This results in exhausted drivers who could very easily fall asleep behind the wheel, causing devastating accidents.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
It’s up to big rig drivers, their employers, truck owners (if different than the driver or employer), and possibly others as well to ensure these immense vehicles are properly maintained in good working order. If something malfunctions or breaks down on a semi-truck, it can lead to the driver losing control or being unable to stop which could cause a deadly wreck.
Speeding
When drivers are already pushing the limits of their federally mandated hours, or they are eager to pick up their next load, or perhaps they want to just finish a route early, they may ignore posted speed limits. Large trucks often have a limit of 55 miles per hour on highways, and going faster than that could cause a crash, especially if the truck is loaded up with heavy cargo or if road conditions are not ideal.
Improperly Secured Cargo
Large trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded with cargo, and if that cargo is improperly secured or if a truck is overloaded, the driver could lose control of their truck, causing a rollover accident or other collision.
Whether one of these factors is responsible for causing your crash or something else, we want to help you. Meet with a Cheyenne truck accident lawyer in our office for a free case evaluation as soon as today.
Common Injuries in a Big Rig Collision
It’s well-known that truck crashes cause devastating damage to crash victims, leaving many of them with life-altering injuries. Some of the most common our office has seen are:
- Neck and back injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Internal injuries
- Burn injuries
- Death
According to research from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), loaded tractor-trailers require 20-40% more distance to stop than cars do, and that is during ideal weather and with ideal road conditions. The data shows that the damage to smaller cars when in a crash with large trucks is often deadly. With a total of 4,764 fatalities from truck accidents in 2022, only 17% were truck occupants while 66% were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles.
How Semi-Truck Crashes Differ from Car Crashes
In most car accident cases, the at-fault party is just the other driver, which makes those claims relatively straightforward. However, with accidents involving large commercial trucks, there can be multiple people or entities that could be held responsible for your damages, such as:
- Truck driver
- Truck owner
- Employer
- Mechanic
- Cargo loader
- Manufacturer
- Third party, such as another driver
Any of these people could play a part in an accident if, for example, the employer didn’t make the truck get inspected annually, or if the manufacturer produced defective parts that malfunctioned. In the case of a truck collision, the qualifications of the driver come into question, as do those of the employer, mechanic, or anyone else involved, whereas qualifications are generally not a concern in a car crash.
Another big difference between truck and car accidents is the amount of damage and severity of injuries that generally occur. As we’ve discussed, big rig accidents can cause traumatizing injuries, mostly due to the size and weight difference between large trucks and other passenger vehicles. Smaller cars can easily become pinned or lodged underneath or between large trucks and another vehicle or an immovable object.
Compensation You May Qualify for as a Settlement in Your Truck Wreck Case
While there is no way to know the exact amount of compensation that you might receive for your big rig crash, your Edwards Law Office, P.C. attorney can likely inform you of typical damages that other truck accident victims have received. Common damages in truck crash settlements are:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of ability to work
- Property damage
- Emotional trauma
- Pain and suffering
- Rehabilitation or therapy
- In-home caregiver
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death
Let Our Trucking Accident Lawyers in Cheyenne, WY Assist You
No matter the details surrounding your accident, or the severity of your damages or injuries, you should not have to suffer for the negligence of someone else. Contact our Cheyenne office for a free consultation and see how we can help you expedite your claim. Each Cheyenne truck accident lawyer on staff is primed and ready to help you and handle all the details of your claim while you focus on your recovery.