This problem of heavy truck accidents has been around for years, and the data is consistent over time. For example, according to the Safety Board analysis of Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS), in 1993 there were 3,311 heavy trucks involved in 3,169 fatal accidents, in which 3,783 persons died. The FARS report shows that heavy truck accidents are often caused by truckdriver fatigue. In fact, as many as 30 to 40 percent of all heavy truck accidents are caused by fatiuge of the driver.

What is the cost to society of heavy truck accidents?

What is the most likely cause of heavy truck accidents?

The most common causes of heavy trucks accidents are:

• speeding,
  
• running off the road
  
• travel out lane
  
• failure to yield
  

"The Safety Board investigated 113 single-vehicle heavy truck accidents in which the driver survived. However, because the 96-hour duty/sleep history that was required for the study was not available for 6 drivers, the 6 accidents in which these drivers were involved were not included in the study. The study, therefore, analyzes data from 107 single-vehicle heavy truck accidents."

Based on the results of the analysis, the NTSB determined that fatigue is a key factor in heavy truck accidents, that hours of service regualtions are a key to preventing heavy truck accidents, that improved education of heavy-truck drivers is important in implementing improved safety about fatigue,

How is the cause of a heavy truck accident determined?

• Inspect the heavy truck including mechanics, tires, brakes
  
• Interview witnesses
  
• Review police reports
  
• Obtain weather report and determine driving conditions
  

What to do if you were in a heavy truck accident?

• Wrongful death
  
• Physical pain and suffering, mental anguish and physical impairment;
  
• Medical and hospital expenses
  
• Wage loss and lost earning capacity