Tunica, Mississippi, Truck Accident Attorney

As anyone who drives down the old Highway 61 in Tunica, Mississippi, knows, tractor-trailers can be extremely dangerous to passing motorists. The giant vehicles are heavy, have enormous blind spots, take a great distance to stop and cause serious damage to smaller passenger cars in the event of a crash. Some of the most common causes for such deadly 18-wheeler accidents in Tunica include the following.

First and foremost, driver fatigue is a huge contributing factor to deadly trucking accidents. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says that 750 people die and some 20,000 are injured each year directly due to overly tired commercial truck drivers. Truckers are known for working long, tiring hours. They are frequently on deadlines to get a shipment to a customer and have financial incentives to make their deliveries on schedule. Hours upon hours staring at the road without a break can be dangerous for even the most experienced drivers. Even momentary lapses of attention can spell disaster for other motorists when a heavy semi truck crashes into them.

A related issue dealing with truck driver fatigue happens when repeated instances of lost sleep compound into what’s known as a “sleep deficit.” This happens because drivers are used to not getting enough sleep for days, weeks and even months at a time. This continuous sleep deprivation can result in dulled senses and delayed reaction times, a dangerous combination on crowded Tunica roadways. The National Transportation Safety Board has said that it believes truck driver fatigue is responsible for a stunning 40 percent of all accidents involving big rigs.

Even more terrifying is that the truckers themselves admit to the problem, with NTSB figures saying that 50 percent of long-haul truckers admit to having dozed off while behind the wheel. While some trucking companies have begun implementing procedures to avoid having drivers fall asleep, including machines that are meant to detect drivers who nod off, they are not widely used across the industry.

Another common cause of trucking accidents in Mississippi and across the country is overly aggressive driving. Numbers from the FMCSA reveal that road rage is not something limited to drivers of passenger cars. The FMCSA says that it believes seven percent of all truck crashes are related to episodes of road rage.

Our office has successfully helped numerous individuals recover from the trucking companies who were responsible for causing injuries. Whether the damage is minor or catastrophic, you can seek justice from those at fault. Everyone at our office treats clients with the same respect and attention we would want ourselves. We understand how scary truck accidents can be and are here to help during a very difficult period of your life. If you’ve been injured in a Tunica semi-truck accident and have questions, please contact the truck accident attorneys at Stroud, Flechas & Dalton.