Major truck traffic travels constantly through Biloxi and Gulfport on its way to and from the I-10, linking Mississippi with the rest of the nation through one of the country’s major highway arteries. Other important freeways like the I-59 cut through Hattiesburg and cross a large section of the Magnolia State. Interstate truck commerce is great for the state’s economy, but it comes with a price.
18-wheelers with their double and triple tractor-trailers pose a real threat to other motorists on Mississippi roads and highways. In the year 2014 alone, almost 4,000 people were killed nationwide in commercial truck crashes. Over 111,000 were injured during that same year. Truck accidents are some of the most devastating traffic collisions we see on highways around the United States. The sheer force behind a large truck towing a heavy cargo haul at high speeds almost ensures that any collision will result in serious consequences.
Truckers may continue to drive when fatigued or make poor decisions in order to reach their destination as quickly as possible, and trucking companies may keep a sharper eye on their bottom line than they keep on vehicle safety. When commercial truck accidents result in serious personal injury or wrongful death because of the negligence or recklessness of truckers and the trucking industry, Biloxi, MS truck accident lawyer Corban Gunn is here to hold them accountable.
Examining the Causes of Mississippi Truck Accidents
There are many different causes that lead to most commercial truck accidents in Mississippi and throughout the U.S. Here are two of the most common:
Driver Negligence – When a truck driver gets behind the wheel of a commercial truck when tired or speeds, drives recklessly, or fails to obey the laws of traffic as well as trucking guidelines in order to reach a destination quicker, that trucker may be able to be held accountable for injuries caused in a resulting accident.
Trucking Corporation Negligence – Trucking agencies in the U.S. must follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) guidelines as well as Mississippi regulations that ensure tractor-trailers are safe to drive and well-maintained, but many corporations fail to properly follow these guidelines to cut costs. If a truck is found to not be well-maintained or does not feature the necessary technology upgrades, the corporation may be found liable for accidents that occur.
Similarly, if a trucking agency is found guilty of forcing their workers to work long hours without rest or sleep, they may be found guilty of negligence. FMCSA guidelines dictate that truck drivers must take breaks and stop for the night—no matter how quickly the company wants to see a route completed.
When investigating a truck accident claim at Corban Gunn, Attorney at Law, we inspect the truck driver’s logbooks to see whether the trucker was qualified to drive the semi in question and was following government regulations covering maximum hours of service and required rest periods. We also know when log books have been falsified.
Holding Trucking Companies Liable for Vehicle Safety
Roadside inspections of semi-trucks frequently turn up safety violations serious enough to have the trucks immediately placed out of service. Most often, these violations involve brakes that are out of adjustment or defective or worn tires that are unsafe to drive on and need to be replaced. Unfortunately, very few commercial vehicles are covered by government inspections in any given year.
For the rest of the trucking fleet, we must rely on the trucking industry to inspect and maintain their commercial vehicles properly. At Corban Gunn, we don’t take the trucking industry’s word for it. Our lawyers thoroughly investigate the cause of a Mississippi trucking accident to determine whether mechanical failure was involved and who was liable.
Holding truck drivers and the trucking industry liable also helps force trucking agencies to make changes that focus on the safety of our motorists and create safer policies that prevent truck drivers from driving for too many hours. Such policies may additionally force agencies to upgrade their 18-wheelers with the latest brake, GPS, and motion sensor technologies which may also help prevent disastrous mistakes.
Recover with the Help of a Biloxi Truck Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in a truck accident in Mississippi or lost a loved one in a fatal truck crash, contact Corban Gunn, Biloxi, MS truck accident lawyer today. Our law firm has a proven record of going up against trucking corporations and their insurers to help accident victims and their families recover a full and fair compensation amount for their legal damages. Give us a call or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and find out how we can help you.
