Auto - Truck Accident- Truck Size*
Representing the Injured in New York
Even more dangerous than the average truck are big trucks that exceed federal limits for weight and size. These overloaded trucks take longer to brake, are more prone to roll over in crashes, further minimize a passenger car occupant’s chance for survival, and damage roads and bridges at increased rates even when only slightly overloaded.
88% of the American public is opposed to allowing bigger, heavier trucks on the highway. According to a poll, 78% are even willing to pay more in costs of goods and services in exchange for more stringent truck standards. In fact, many citizens and activists are calling for a freeze on the size and weight of trucks for several safety and damage reasons including the following:
Fatal Crashes
The chances of a truck being involved in a collision that includes a fatality increases with each extra ton of weight over the 80,000 pound gross vehicle weight that is the federal limit. In fact, a truck weighing even 80,000 pounds is twice as likely as a truck weighing 50,000 pounds to be involved in a fatal incident.
Road Damage
One 80,000-pound truck may do as much wear-and-tear damage to a highway as 9,600 passenger vehicles. Overloaded trucks do far more damage, yet may not pay in taxes and fees anywhere near the money proportionate to the increased damage.
Bigger Trucks
Trailer lengths continue to grow longer. The industry standard in the 1960s was 40 feet, in the 1970s 48 feet, in the late 1980s 53 feet. Some states even allow 57- and 59-foot trailers. Multiple-trailer trucks have serious handling problems that lead to instability, which can contribute to jackknifing, overturning, and lane encroachments.
Number of Trucks
Historically, even after federal increases in the allowed weight and size of trucks, the number of trucks on the road has not decreased. The number of trucks on the road, the number of trips, and the number of miles traveled have not decreased despite increases in truck weight and size allowances, and U.S. highways have not become safer.
Highway Accommodation
Most highways are not structured to accommodate the ever-increasing size of trucks. Even many interstate ramps are not built to allow passage of even a 48-foot trailer, much less the combination trucks carrying a 53-foot trailer. In addition, many highway driving lanes are too narrow to be safely negotiated by both passenger vehicles and trucks.
Braking Time
Overloaded trucks are not equipped with the adjustments needed to achieve even the stopping time of a large truck within the legal weight limits; loaded trucks take up to 20 to 40% longer to stop than cars, at least the length of a football field. A truck weighing 100,000 pounds with unadjusted brakes travels up to 25% further than an 80,000-pound truck; a 120,000-pound truck travels up to 50% further.
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If you’ve been injured in New York state, contact William Mattar, a New York lawyer whose focus is auto injury, which includes car, bus, truck, bicycle, pedestrian, and motorcycle crashes. William Mattar’s Law Firm has advocated for hurt and injured clients across New York state, including in the Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, Binghamton, Corning, Elmira, Lockport, Niagara Falls, Plattsburgh, Schenectady, Troy, Utica, and Watertown areas. Fill out a Free Online Contact Form or better yet, call us at 444-4444 or 1-800-317-2424 for a free consultation today! Call us anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are on call right now. We have several locations in New York state to better serve you. Do not worry where you are located. We may be able to come to your home or hospital. Call us, we are ready to help.
*All facts and figures from the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the New York state Department of Transportation.
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