Trailer Accidents

Recreational vehicles are popular with an estimated eight million owners nationwide.  Even though these big vehicles are popular, they can be very dangerous, as evidenced by the many trailer accidents that happen each year. Commercial tractor-trailer rigs also cause many accidents every year.

One of the major reasons RV trailers have accidents on the highways is due to flawed tires.  For example, there was a recall by Goodyear concerning the tire size G-159 275/7022.5 because many trailer accidents have occurred with these tires on the trailer.  These tires are not made for RV travel, yet they have been placed on RV trailers.  Another factor that makes RV’s dangerous and prone to lawsuits is when they begin to sway near other vehicles driving around them.  These RV’s can cause personal injury and life threatening issues. Recreational drivers are more prone to getting in accidents in RV’s because they are not professional drivers, like those in tractor-trailer rigs. 

Tractor-trailer rigs can also be a great risk to those who travel the open road.  Many big rig drivers are often private contractors who may not follow all the safety regulations for every state where they drive.  America cannot function properly without the big rigs getting to their destination.  However, many tractor-trailer drivers suffer from being tired and sleepy, have time-critical schedules to maintain, and some even have drug related issues. These and other factors contribute to more than 140,000 accidents each year, resulting in a number of lawsuits.  More than 4,000 people died in accidents in 2007.  Fifty percent of the crashes were the fault of the tractor-trailer driver.  Do not be surprised to hear of any class action lawsuits related to tractor-trailer accidents.

In 2008 on Interstate 4, there was a major disaster along this main Disneyworld traffic artery.  A white haze blanketed the interstate leaving zero visibility.  Thirty-eight people were injured and four lost their lives in one of Florida’s worst crashes in the history of the state.  In this 70-car-pileup there was no room for inexperienced RV drivers, rushed tractor-trailer driver schedules, or any other factors that led to all who got hurt or killed during the onslaught of vehicles piling up.

It is not the size of the RV or the type of tractor-trailer that causes personal injuries in trailer accidents. There are inspection stations all across the country for the commercial vehicles, as well as safety guidelines for RV’s to follow.  Every state has its own regulations along with federal regulations covering commercial truck transportation, yet RV’s are not as regulated.   Safety takes a back seat many times to those who operate a large trailer, regardless if it is used for commercial or recreational reasons. 

One crash left a husband and wife with serious injuries when they were struck by a trailer.  After the impact they crashed into an SUV.  The accident caused a brain injury and some orthopedic injuries.  The wife sustained some orthopedic injuries that caused some complications.  Their entire settlement, which covered medical costs, pain and suffering, was over 2.5 million dollars.

The causes of trailer accidents can stem from a variety of reasons; from manufacturer flaws to lack of government regulations, driver inexperience, avoiding safety issues and the list goes on and on.  If you or someone you know has suffered an injury caused by a trailer accident, you may be entitled to compensation for medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering and possibly other things. Call our experienced personal injury attorneys now or complete the inquiry form for a free case evaluation.

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