One person is in the hospital after being injured in a commercial vehicle accident in Virginia Beach on Wednesday, August 16th. The collision took place in the eastbound lanes of Northampton Boulevard at about 4:25 p.m.
What are the leading causes of commercial vehicle accidents?
According to local police, the crash involved a passenger vehicle and two commercial vehicles. Video obtained by investigators appears to show that the two commercial vehicles were tractor-trailers.
One driver was transported to a local hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. No additional details have been provided.
The road east of Northampton Boulevard was temporarily closed to traffic between Pleasure House Road and Independence Boulevard to allow officers from the Virginia Beach Police Department to investigate the crash.
If you were injured in a Virginia commercial truck accident, you should speak with a Virginia commercial vehicle accident attorney at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp. We offer all potential clients a free consultation. One of our qualified attorneys will review the circumstances of your injuries and determine the best legal strategy for recovering the compensation you deserve.
Virginia Commercial Vehicle Accident Statistics
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles recently published statistical data showing that in 2022:
- There were 5,664 accidents involving commercial vehicles, accounting for 4.6% of all vehicle accidents statewide.
- Of those crashes, 116 resulted in fatalities, 93 of which were the occupants of the smaller vehicle, and 2,000 resulted in some degree of injury.
Driver-Related Causes of Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Commercial vehicle accidents have the potential to be catastrophic, leading to severe injuries and even death. Given their enormous weight and size, when a commercial vehicle is involved in an accident, it is more likely to cause more serious injuries than an accident involving another passenger vehicle.
The leading driver-related causes of these devastating collisions are:
Driver Fatigue
Commercial vehicle drivers, especially long-haul truckers, often surpass their legally allowed driving hours, which can lead to driver fatigue and a greater risk of accidents. Federal Hours of Service regulations permit commercial vehicle drivers who are transporting property to drive their vehicles for no more than 11 consecutive hours following a 10-hour rest. Drivers transporting passengers, however, are allowed to drive for no more than 10 consecutive hours following eight full hours off the clock.
Studies have determined that commercial vehicle drivers and their employers often disregard these restrictions. Finding that a truck driver ignored the Hours of Service in discovery in a case can be critically important to its success.
Speeding
Another leading cause of commercial vehicle accidents is speeding. The 2022 Safer Trucking Report published by the Institute for Safer Trucking reveals a 164% uptick in fatal commercial vehicle crashes from 2011 to 2020 on roadways with a speed limit greater than 75 miles per hour.
When commercial vehicles travel at high rates of speed, it is hard for the driver to react appropriately to an unexpected situation. The weight of the vehicle combined with the weight of its cargo requires more braking distance than drivers are afforded at high speeds.
Improperly Loaded Freight
When freight is not properly loaded, it can cause a variety of problems, including shifting, uneven weight distribution, and overloaded trailers that exceed the weight limit. These issues could lead to traffic accidents, and even cause the truck’s contents to fall onto the roadway, creating a danger for other drivers in the immediate area.
Determining whether or not freight was properly loaded is a very important part of establishing the cause of the accident. Also, if a second company was in charge of loading the truck, and they did so poorly, they could be an additional defendant in a lawsuit.
Virginia Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyers
While most commercial drivers are professionals who obey the rules of the road and do not take their jobs lightly, there are those who choose to disregard the law, increasing their chances of causing accidents.
If a negligent commercial vehicle driver was responsible for your accident-related injuries, please contact the personal injury law firm of Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp. Schedule your free consultation today by calling us at (833) 997-1774 and speaking to one of our qualified Virginia commercial vehicle accident lawyers.