The family of a New Mexico woman fatally struck by a tractor-trailer successfully proved to a jury that the truck driver did not have sufficient training to operate his assigned rig. After a two-week trial, the jury determined that the transportation company that...
Who is likely to get hurt in a truck accident?
The large trucks on New Mexico roads dwarf even the larger passenger vehicles sharing the same road system. A fully-loaded 18-wheeler truck can weigh in at as much as 40 tons while the typical passenger vehicle weighs around 5,000 pounds, or two and a half tons. When...
Crashes are the biggest cause of on-the-job deaths for truckers
There is a reason many insurance companies ask for estimated miles driven when offering auto insurance. They know that the more miles a person spends on the road, the greater the chances of getting into an accident. Make those long hours consecutive or back-to-back...
The dangers of fatigue for truckers and others on the road
On New Mexico highways, commercial trucks are among the most dangerous vehicles due to their size in comparison to other vehicles. If something goes wrong and if you as the trucker have not met safety standards, the consequences can be severe. According to the Federal...
Fatal trucker crashes reach record highs
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released a report that announced that 840 truckers died in 2017. This is a record high that was up from 786 in 2016 and an overall 25 percent increase in the number of fatalities since 2011. This breaks down to an average...
Cyclist struck by truck survives
In a collision between a car and a semi-truck, the driver of the car is often seriously injured or killed. Bicyclists hit by 60-foot-long, 80,000 pound semi-trucks have an exceedingly small chance of survival, even while wearing a helmet. Yet a teenager cyclist in...
Truck full of bees crashes, releases swarm on drivers
Every driver fears being involved in a trucking accident. Trucks are large and heavy, making them disproportionately likely to cause serious injuries when involved in a crash. Not to mention the expensive property damage that comes from having your car damaged by a...
Self-driving trucks may soon be on New Mexico roads
Self-driving cars are more prevalent than ever. And with several auto manufacturers developing autonomous vehicles and public interest at an all-time high, self-driving cars may soon be on even more roadways.But self-driving technology is not limited to cars. Many...
Why shouldn’t I apologize after a trucking accident?
Let's say that a large commercial truck sideswipes your vehicle while trying to pass you. You and the truck driver pull over to the shoulder. Frightened and stunned, you stammer out an apology to the truck driver while the two of you exchange information.After...
What are the most common injuries in trucking accidents?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the frequency of trucking accidents has been rising since 2009 and will likely continue to increase. This alarming statistic means that motorists could be at increased risk of being injured in a trucking...