Big Truck Size

Even more dangerous than the average large truck are the large trucks that exceed federal limits for weight and size. These overloaded large 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 slightly overloaded.

Have you been injured in a big truck accident? Contact Steven A. Bagen & Associates Gainesville, Florida big truck accident lawyers today. Our main office is located in Gainesville but we have successfully advocated for clients throughout Northern and Central Florida, including the major metropolitan areas of Jacksonville, Ocala, Orlando, and Daytona. Complete a FREE online consultation form or call us toll free at 1-800-800-2575.

In addition, a majority of the American public, 88%, 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 large trucks for several safety and damage reasons including the following:

Fatal Crashes
The chances of a large truck being involved in a large truck accident 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 large truck accident.

Road Damage
One 80,000-pound large truck may do as much wear-and-tear damage to a highway as 9,600 passenger vehicles. Overloaded trucks do far more damage, yet do 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. And multiple-trailer trucks have serious handling problems that lead to instability, which can contribute to jackknifing, overturning, and lane encroachments.

Number of Trucks
Even after federal increases in the allowed weight and size of large trucks, historically 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 large 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 large 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 highways boast driving lanes too narrow to be safely negotiated by both passenger vehicles and large trucks.

Braking Time
Overloaded large trucks are not equipped with the adjustments needed to achieve even the stopping time of a large truck within the legal weight limits; loaded large trucks take 20-40% longer to stop than cars, at least the length of a football field. A truck weighing 100,000 pounds with unadjusted brakes travels 25% further than an 80,000-pound truck; a 120,000-pound truck travels 50% further.

Free Consultation!
Don't go it alone. If you have been injured in a truck accident, you need an experienced Gainesville, Florida truck accident lawyer on your side. Contact Steven A. Bagen & Associates. Fill out a FREE Online Consultation Form or call us toll free at 1-800-800-2575.

Truck Accident Procedures
If you were involved in an auto accident with a large truck in Gainesville, Florida, would you know what to do? Truck accidents are more than just auto accidents involving larger vehicles. Learn more about the procedure to follow after a truck accident... [read more]

Truck Size
How big is too big? Too many large trucks travel our highways overloaded and with trailers larger than what laws allow, and the costs are greater than the resulting damage to the roads... [read more]

Underride Accidents
If you were in an accident with a large truck in Gainesville, Florida, how safe would you be? The structure of some large trucks makes them inherently deadly to occupants of passenger vehicles... [read more]

Driver Fatigue
The laws regulating how many hours a driver of a large truck can drive at a stretch have changed. How many hours has the truck driver next to you been driving? Is he too tired to be on the road... [read more]

Sharing the Road
Better than surviving a large truck accident is never being involved in one. There are ways that both you and the drivers of large trucks can make the highways safer for everyone... [read more]

Free Consultation Form
Have you been injured in a big truck accident? Contact Steven A. Bagen & Associates Gainesville, Florida big truck accident lawyers today. Click here to complete the big truck accident form online.