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Free Consultation: 800-937-8443

On October 26th, 2018, a small Toyota pickup smashed into a tractor-trailer killing the driver of the pickup. The wreck occurred just before 6 am on Cherry Blossom Way in front of the Georgetown Toyota manufacturing plant.

According to witnesses, the driver of the tractor-trailer took a left turn on a flashing yellow light in front of the pickup which had entered the intersection under a green light. Georgetown police said that the driver of the pickup died at the scene, and the driver of the tractor-trailer was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Large Truck Fatalities

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle fatalities involving large trucks is at the highest level since 2007, and up 5.4 % from 2015. Unfortunately, the drivers of the smaller vehicles do not fare so well when pitted against the heavier vehicles. In these crashes, the driver of the little vehicle becomes the fatality 97 % of the time.

The biggest reason for this is the weight of the vehicle. A large truck can weigh from 20,000 to 80,000 lbs depending on the load of the truck, while the average pickup is around 5,000 lbs. This leaves the driver of the smaller vehicle much more vulnerable to serious injury.

Duty of Car for Large Truck Drivers

The law requires greater safety measure for drivers of large commercial vehicles as they pose additional risks to drivers on the roads and highways. In Kentucky, truck drivers are required to have specialized training certificate and pass a written exam and a driver skills evaluation. Kentucky law also holds operators of large vehicles to a higher standard because of their training and the risk inherent in larger vehicles. This is to protect the little guy from serious injury or death.

What if I’ve Been Injured by a Semi-Truck?

Don’t do this alone! Fortunately, you are alive but many drivers who have tangled with these big rigs are not so fortunate. Don’t test fate again, you need a lawyer who knows the law to help you through your legal ordeal.

Did you know that even though the truck hit you, it is up to you prove that it was the other driver’s fault? Don’t take the chance that the insurance company or their defense attorneys are going to treat you fairly. Talk to an attorney about your case. If you don’t want to call the experienced and skilled lawyers at  Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, that’s ok, call another attorney, just don’t go it alone.

 

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