San Jose Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Commercial vehicle accidents can be tragic. Of course, no one likes the idea that such large vehicles could produce fatalities. But the statistics are clear; fatalities from commercial vehicles are occurring at an alarming rate. The different statistics show the results of dangerous maneuvering regarding the following vehicles: large trucks; buses; and aircraft.
Large Trucks
The problem driving large trucks is that there is a lot of risk involved with such an endeavor, no matter how one looks at the statistics. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (2010), in year 2009 alone, large trucks and buses were involved in 3,197 fatal crashes (pp. 1). Driving a large truck is inherently dangerous due to the fact that many people are waiting on the other end of a shipment, mainly bosses. There is a lot of pressure on truck drivers to haul cargo fast, leaving behind the safety of other drivers on the road. A large truck isn’t the only type of commercial vehicle that has a lot of liability associated with it. This brings us to our next point.
Buses
Buses can be nightmares. Within the span of a month, three separate incidents occurred within the fleet of one specific bus company that featured low-cost bus fares. One woman was killed because she was hit by a side mirror. Additionally, there were two other incidents that were crashes. In one crash, there was a new bus driver who had a trainer right next to him. The authorities investigated, and determined that if the bus driver hadn’t turned the wheel in the direction the bus was turning, many more people could have been killed in the accident, which was due to one of the back tires blowing out. Of course, it’s also very serious when even larger vehicles are involved–the next point.
Aircraft
Aircraft are some of the most dangerous vehicles because there are so many things that could go wrong with them. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (2010), in year 2009 alone there were 474 fatalities involving general aviation vehicles (pp. 123). Aircraft can be especially problematic in terms of crashes, because any general aviation vehicle that is not properly inspected can result in a disaster. In a recent book by an industry insider, the book “Attention All Passengers” details how many underlying problems there are within the airline industry. Commercial planes are not being checked with uniform thoroughness in American airports. Planes are being serviced in other countries and then routine checks are neglected when the planes come back to the U.S., having issues with brake lines, steering, and so forth. Hairline cracks in the craft or poor riveting or assembly could spell disaster.
Contact our San Jose accident lawyer today using the form above for a free consultation if you have been injured in an accident in the San Jose area.
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