Dangers of Big Semi Trucks

A large semi truck poses an even greater risk to on the road than a regular, smaller sized car does in the case of a collision. Big rigs weigh up to the legal limit of 80,000 pounds, not including any overweight permit possession. That is 75,000 pounds heavier than a standard automobile. The customary dimensions of a semi truck are about 70-80 ft. long and 14 ft. wide, with approximately a 25 ft. wheelbase. Thus the driver of a vehicle of this magnitude possesses control of literally tons of pounds of fast-moving metal. If you have been involved in a semi truck-related collision in San Antonio, the lawyers at Carabin Shaw want to hear your story. A San Antonio semi truck accident attorney is standing by and prepared to fight with you and for you. Do not hesitate to call us today.

Unfortunately for surrounding traffic, cars, drivers, and pedestrians, The National Trucking Industry is currently lobbying to use larger and heavier trucks on the nation’s highways. Since 1991, the legal weight limitation in effect for commercial trucks has been placed at 80,000 pounds. However, of late, the semi-trucking industry has sought to increase this weight capacity to as much as 97,000 pounds. While their motivation is based in transport efficiency, the unforeseen consequences of this additional weight could challenge the safety of motorists, including operators of the heavier trucks themselves. It may also expedite damage to our highway infrastructure because of the extra strain, wear, and tear on the structures upon which the trucks travel.

In addition to the compounded physical stress that the additional weight places on the interstate system infrastructure, the trucks would also require extra distance and force with which to stop in the event of emergencies and present additional safety risks to operators of heavy trucks. Due to these concerns, it is not surprising that safety advocates strongly oppose an increase for this allowable weight limits on heavy trucks. But their reasoning is not limited to simply a rise in structural and peripheral danger. Dangers of big semi trucks actually run much deeper.

The fatal crash rate for heavy truck-related crashes is climbing all the time, and is already as high as the passenger vehicle crash rate. Manufacturers of heavy trucks do not typically engineer or test their vehicles for crashworthiness safety in the same matter as noncommercial auto manufacturers. As a result, heavy trucks provide very little protection to truck occupants or cars in proximity. Unfortunately, this results in anywhere from a 50% to 60 % fatality rate in wrecks involved a truck of this size. The dangers of big semi trucks could affect all of us who share the road with them. This includes the ever-growing metroplex of San Antonio. Our lawyers will stop at nothing to fight for the compensation you deserve.

It is unlikely that truck manufacturers would change their design processes to improve the crashworthiness of their trucks if they were allowed to carry heavier loads. Therefore, the fatal heavy truck statistics would likely go higher if the trucking industry is indeed allowed to increase the allowable weight and size of the cargo they could carry. This means that the other drivers sharing the road with the truck are at increased danger for semi truck accidents/18 wheeler accidents. Fortunately, our attorneys in San Antonio are here for those drivers, and our lawyers will not rest until we have completed your settlement and constructed a watertight case against the dangers of big semi trucks in your defense.

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Contact the San Antonio lawyers at Carabin Shaw today via email, or by phone, day or night, at 956.779.2301.