How Many Truck Accidents Happen in West Virginia?

Have you ever counted the number of semi-trucks you encounter on your commute to work? According to the American Trucking Association, there were 3.54 million truck drivers in 2022, an increase of 1.5% from the previous year.

When you also consider that those trucks carried a combined 11.46 billion tons of freight, chances are that you encounter many of those trucks regularly. The hope is that you never get into an accident with one of those 18-wheelers. But how many truck accidents happen in West Virginia?

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data from 2023 shows that 9.3% of fatal traffic crashes involve large trucks across the country. In West Virginia, that average goes up to 10.9%, translating to 384 of these fatal crashes.

The following are some common causes of West Virginia truck accidents:

Driving Hours Violations

Truck drivers are under a lot of pressure to make their deliveries and pickups on a strict schedule. When traffic conditions impact those schedules, the drivers try to make up the time by staying on the road longer. That can lead to fatigue behind the wheel, which triggers accidents. That is why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) stepped in to set hours-of-service regulations, such as “an 11-hour driving limit after 10 consecutive hours off duty.”

Drivers need to keep track of their driving time with electronic logs. In an accident, those logs could become an important piece of evidence. If the trucker struck you after willfully breaking the regulations, they could be held liable for the accident.

Failure To Perform Inspections

In addition to the driving hour regulations, FMCSA also regulates drivers’ responsibility to conduct inspections of their rigs. Those inspections are supposed to happen at the start of every driving session and should include checking things like the brakes, tire pressure, signals, and trailer hookups. One skipped inspection can cause a trucking accident.

Excessive Loads

In addition to the rules and regulations set by FMCSA, each state can also set its own regulations regarding transporting goods. Chapter 17 of the West Virginia Code details all the size and weight load restrictions for any truck operating in our state. Unfortunately, some truckers opt to bypass the weigh stations in an effort to deliver heavier loads. Doing so could become a clear liability issue if a crash occurred.

Negligent Hiring

There is a first time for everything, and that includes driving a truck. However, before a truck driver can take on special loads such as logging or hazardous materials, they need to go through additional training and certification. It is the responsibility of a trucking company to hire the right type of driver. Failure to do so could mean the trucking company will be a party to the lawsuit.

Here are some of the basic requirements for a truck driver:

• A driver must be twenty-one or older
• A driver must have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL)
• A driver must read and speak English enough to understand traffic signs and make entries on reports
• A driver must meet the FMCSA’s regulations for physical requirements
• A driver cannot be disqualified under FMCSA rules from driving a commercial vehicle
• A driver must complete a driver’s road test and have a certificate of completion

Trucking companies must maintain up-to-date records on each of their drivers, which can become evidence in a future West Virginia truck crash lawsuit.

Reckless Driving

Every driver on the road needs to be focused, and truckers have added responsibility because of the size of their rigs. They must avoid reckless driving, such as speeding, changing lanes without signaling, or tailgating. Just because a truck is bigger doesn’t mean it automatically has the right of way. If you see a truck driving recklessly, you can call 911 to report it immediately. You’ll also want to back off and avoid coming in contact with it.

What To Do If a Truck Accident Happens in West Virginia

If you were involved in an accident with a truck in which you suffered serious injuries, you’ll want to reach out to the legal team at Hendrickson & Long, PLLC, for guidance about what to do next. We have decades of combined experience helping clients with their truck accident claims. We can provide you with the support you need to make an informed decision about the way forward. Call to set up a free consultation to discuss your tractor-trailer crash today.