Semi-Truck Crash and Train Wreck Highlights Truck Accident Risk in Idaho
According to Idaho State Police, a semi-truck collided into a train on Monday, October 6, near Saint Anthony. The accident took place near 200 North Road and U.S. Highway 20. Lori Clark, the driver of the semi-truck was transported to Madison Memorial Hospital. Fortunately, the locomotive engineer was not injured.
The accident occurred when the truck stopped on the tracks and the locomotive was unable to stop.
The accident is currently under investigation.
A recent study has found that truck accidents are responsible for many severe accidents in the U.S. each year. An article published in the International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion found that while trucks comprise only 8% of highway traffic, they are responsible for 11% of fatal road crashes each year.
The study found that when the volume of regular traffic is low combined with a higher percentage of trucks on the road, that a higher incidence of severe crashes occur. Every year trucks are responsible for over 4,000 deaths in the U.S.
These accidents are tragic because they are responsible for severe personal injury, lost time on the job, and damage to property.
Before this study was performed, crash severity was thought to be largely a factor of drinking and drug use and a driver’s failure to pay attention. This study broke down accident factors into 15 categories including traffic-related factors, driver-related factors, vehicle problems, and environmental factors. Severity of crashes was also ranked from property damage crashes, to non-incapacitating injuries, to incapacitating injuries, and finally, fatal injuries. The study found that the percentage of trucks on the road actually determined crash severity. Speed was a secondary factor leading to more severe accidents. When vehicles were traveling over 45 miles per hour, the chances of individuals dying doubled.
Male drivers were found more likely to be involved in fatal crashes, while impaired drivers were found to be 7 percent more likely to be involved in an accident.
Longer trucks were found to be more prone to accidents due to their restricted visibility.
Truck accidents are often quite preventable. Drivers are sometimes required to log in long hours. Despite federal restrictions on the amount of time a driver is allowed to be on the road, many drivers spend far longer time periods driving. Some semi-truck companies place the bottom line over other driver’s safety. Equipment may not be properly maintained, weight loads may not always be observed, and safety features are sometimes not kept up to date.
If you’ve been in an accident involving a semi-truck, you may be facing property damage costs, health care bills, and long rehabilitation periods that could compromise your ability to work. If this is the case, you need a personal injury lawyer in Meridian or Boise, Idaho who can help you seek reimbursement and compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The Law Office of Johnson & Lundgreen has been helping truck accident victims seek justice when truck companies, drivers, and operators fail other drivers.
