My father was pulling off the interstate and crashed into a semi-truck parked on the shoulder. What should I do?
There have been some headlines lately about cars running into semi-trucks parked on the side of roadways. These types of accidents are often the result of truck drivers making the decision to park illegally in a spot that endangers other drivers.
Just after midnight on March 16, the driver of an SUV died after colliding with the trailer of a truck which was parked on the shoulder of an 1-10 exit ramp near Chandler, AZ.
So, what should you do if you or a member of your family is unfortunate enough to be involved in a car/truck accident?
Truck Accident Statistics
First, cars crashing into large trucks parked alongside highways is not a new phenomenon. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 200-250 fatalities occur each year when passenger vehicles hit large, parked trucks.
Any accident between a car and a large truck, whether moving or parked, often is severe because of the size and weight of differences between them.
Truck accident statistics in Arizona are a reflection of the large number of big rigs on the road day and night. Arizona’s I-10, I-40 and 1-17 are among the busiest freight corridors in the western United States.
Truck accident data for 2024 as recorded by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) include:
- 14,069 crashes involving trucks
- 153 fatal truck crashes
- About 7-8% of fatal crashes in Arizona involve large trucks
- 3,000-plus serious injury crashes involve trucks
- 4-6 percent of truck crashes involve vehicles crashing into parked trucks
Why are accidents between cars and parked trucks so severe?
- A car running into the back of a parked truck often is travelling 50 – 60 mph
- A truck can weigh up to 12 tons, compared to a car at 2,500 – 5,000 pounds
- Cars sometimes slide under the trailer
An executive in the insurance department of one of the nation’s largest trucking companies said he often told his friends: “When I’m driving, I never, never get close to a semi. You’d understand why if you read the accident reports I read on a daily basis. I’m telling you this because I like you.”
Truck drivers should know where they can legally park
Nearly all state laws clearly specify where trucks can park. In most cases, they cannot park on highway shoulders or ramps. They cannot park on the shoulders of dark highways without warning flashers on.
Why do trucks park illegally?
There are millions of trucks in the U.S, but there is limited overnight parking available. If you’ve been on the interstate at any time from dusk on, you have probably seen semis and large trucks crowded into rest stops and truck plazas. Truck drivers who don’t plan adequately or don’t pull over early enough often run out of hours they can work. If rest areas and truck stops are crowded, they opt to ignore the law and pull over on the roadside or a ramp.
Haven’t drivers been trained on laws specifying where they can park?
Trucking companies of all sizes are under pressure to deliver more freight. They sometimes succumb to the pressure to get drivers on the road quickly, even if they have received minimal training.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffey has directed his department to crack down on “CDL Mills” which emphasize speed and quantity. Those businesses have placed expediency and profit over quality training. The schools “teach to pass the test,” rather than focusing on essential skills like driving in adverse weather conditions, backing up on city streets, and decision making under stressful circumstances.
This past year, DOT has taken legal action against thousands of CDL schools for failing to comply with driver training standards and for employing unqualified instructors.
Good, well-trained drivers are in short supply
In a story in an industry magazine, “Freightwaves,” the author contends that the headlines about driver shortages are untrue. The real problem, according to the magazine, is that the industry has a retention problem and is designed to quickly burn-out drivers who are poorly trained, creating a false shortage. Better driver training standards and curriculums would correct the situation.
What does it mean for the rest of us?
Obviously, poorly trained truck drivers are placing lives in danger. They cause accidents, injuries, and deaths. A 2,500-pound passenger vehicle will never come out on top if it is in a crash with a 42,000-pound semi. And, unfortunately, the occupants of the car most likely won’t fare well either.
Accident victims need an advocate
Trucking firms and the trucking industry spend millions on attorneys. They often seek to settle cases and urge the injured party to sign off quickly. The personal injury attorneys at Kelly Law Team have the expertise and experience to properly represent you and get you proper compensation for your loss.
