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Holidays May Lead to More Truck Accidents

On Behalf of | Dec 5, 2017 | Firm News

Pittsburgh Truck Accident Lawyers help injured victims of truck accidents during the holidays.

For decades, Black Friday has been known as the biggest shopping day of the calendar year. However, Cyber Monday is overtaking Black Friday as people choose the convenience of shopping online at home. There are no crowds to battle and the deals are just as good or better. Free shipping is also a big incentive, and that means more packages being delivered.

The holiday delivery rush means more trucks out on the road trying to get packages to people on time. Consider that 54 million items, or 629 items per second, were ordered on Amazon last year on Cyber Monday alone. All of those items and more got shipped out on trucks to reach their destinations. In past holiday seasons, FedEx has delivered 300 million packages and the United States Post Office handled twice that number. Every year sees an increase in online ordering, thus creating a safety threat to travelers. Statistically, the risk of being involved in a truck accident increases at this time of year by 10 percent. Possible reasons for this include:

  • The increased number of trucks on the road
  • Driver fatigue from maintaining heavy driving schedules because of increased demand
  • Companies hiring inexperienced drivers to meet demand
  • Winter weather conditions

Truck Accidents

A fully loaded tractor trailer can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. and requires the length of nearly two football fields to come to a full stop at highway speeds. That is in good weather conditions. In less than perfect road conditions, even more stopping distance is needed. Victims of truck accidents who are not fatally injured can suffer severe injuries that require expensive medical treatment and extended rehabilitation therapy. Driver error is the number one cause of truck accidents and with a holiday delivery schedule to keep up with, truck drivers can easily be overworked and overtired.

Drive Defensively

When driving this holiday season, be aware of the trucks around you and give them room to maneuver. Be mindful of a truck’s blind spot, which is substantially larger than a car’s. If you are directly in front of or behind a truck, the driver cannot see you. This is also true if you are directly next to the door of the cab, especially on the passenger side. Never pass a truck and pull into its lane directly in front of it. As mentioned above, trucks need plenty of stopping space in the event of an emergency. Finally, plan ahead for the time you need to get to your destination, taking into account the holiday traffic so that you will not feel pressured to speed to get there.

Pittsburgh Truck Accident Lawyers at AlpernSchubert P.C. Help Injured Victims of Truck Accidents

If you have been injured in a truck accident that was caused by the negligence of another party, you may be eligible for compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Talk to a Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer from AlpernSchubert P.C. who will review your case for free and answer any questions you might have. Call us today at 412-765-1888 or 800-243-6095 or complete our online contact form. From our offices in Pittsburgh, we represent clients throughout Western Pennsylvania, including those in Washington, New Castle, and all of Allegheny County, Washington County, and Lawrence County.