5 Trucking Companies With High Accident Records
Commercial trucking is a huge part of the U.S. economy. These trucks often carry essential supplies and food items that keep businesses running smoothly. Every year the 3.5 million truck drivers on the road use around 39 billion gallons of fuel to bring over 70% of the total freight in the U.S. from one coast of the country to the other.
Truckers are in high demand and are under pressure to deliver goods as quickly as possible. This means that some truckers may be tempted to speed or forego other safety regulations when driving in order to meet deadlines and earn more money. However, when trucking companies prioritize their profits and deliveries over the safety of the public, serious and sometimes deadly truck crashes can occur.
Here are a few important things to know about trucking companies associated with the most truck accidents and what you can do if you’re an accident victim.
When Is a Trucking Company Considered Dangerous?
The Department of Transportation (DOT) mandates that carriers report certain types of accidents. According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) Section 390.15, accidents must be reported if someone lost their life in the accident or if at least one involved vehicle was totaled and had to be towed from the accident site.
Trucking Companies With the Most Accidents
Based on accidents that were reported to the DOT over a two-year period, some of the trucking companies with the most accidents include:
- Swift Transportation with 1,500 collisions
- S. Xpress with 1,448 crashes
- Werner Enterprises with 960 truck accidents
- FedEx with 1,762 collisions. These crashes resulted in five fatalities and 575 injuries
- UPS with 2,003 crashes. These accidents resulted in 49 fatalities and 689 injuries.
It is important to note that trucking companies with more trucks on the road traveling longer distances have a higher chance of getting into accidents. Smaller trucking companies may have a higher rate of accidents according to mileage and the number of trucks in their fleet.
Steps to Take If You’re In a Truck Accident
If you get into an accident that involves a commercial truck, you should take immediate steps to protect yourself and your chances of getting a fair injury settlement.
If you suffered serious injuries, an ambulance should take you from the scene of the accident to a nearby hospital. If your injuries were minor, you should make an appointment for a medical exam. Be sure to do this as soon as possible, so your doctor’s appointment will appear in your medical records quickly.
The longer you wait to be treated for your injuries, the greater the chances that the defendant’s insurance company will be able to prevent you from getting a fair settlement.
It is also important to report the accident immediately. Get the trucker’s contact information and never admit fault at the accident scene or when you speak to the insurance company. Be sure to file a police report and get a copy for your records. If you can, take pictures of the accident scene, including all the vehicles involved in the accident.
Report the accident to your insurance company, but do not provide a recorded or written statement to your insurance company or the defendant’s insurer.
A truck accident case involves many parties besides the driver. That’s why it’s important for victims to have proper legal representation if you’ve been injured or sustained damages due to a truck accident. Contact an attorney as soon as you can to represent you as you contact the trucking company and relevant insurance companies. When you have a lawyer on your side, you’re more likely to get the settlement you’re entitled to in a timely manner.
