Trucking plays a vital role in the American economy, transporting goods nationwide. Interstate 25 (I-25), which runs from Buffalo, Wyoming, to Las Cruces, New Mexico, is a major thoroughfare for tractor-trailers delivering goods to multiple points in between.

I-25 is New Mexico’s longest and busiest road, stretching 462 miles across the state. Each year, over 800 truck accidents occur in New Mexico, resulting in 375 injuries and over 50 deaths. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA), 57 percent of fatal truck accidents occur in rural areas and 27 percent on interstate highways, including I-25 in New Mexico.

Truck accidents are notoriously dangerous and have a 97 percent fatality rate. Fully loaded, a tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and its size and speed create sheer momentum that results in devastating accidents when colliding with another vehicle.

Why Are Truck Accidents So Dangerous?

Commercial trucks operate much differently than passenger vehicles. Their size and weight affect maneuverability and create numerous factors that make them dangerous to other motorists, such as:

• Blind spots: Trucks have large blind spots, areas around the truck where the driver’s vision is obstructed. Passenger cars lingering in these blind spots are at significant risk of accidents during lane changes or turns.
• Braking distance: The weight of commercial trucks requires extended stopping distances, making it difficult for drivers to make sudden moves for obstacles or traffic changes.
• Cargo shift and spillage: Improperly secured cargo can shift, making the truck unbalanced or spill during transit, creating obstacles and sudden road hazards for nearby vehicles.
• Hazardous materials: Many trucks carry hazardous materials and require additional driver certification. If improperly loaded, mishandled, or the driver fails to follow specific guidelines, catastrophic accidents can occur, including fires, explosions, and large areas of contamination.
• Maneuverability: Commercial trucks have limited maneuverability and a wider turning radius, requiring additional space for sharp turns.
• Size and weight: A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, creating a massive force of impact during a collision.
• Speed: Speeding trucks require more time to stop safely. Drivers who speed can lose control of the truck or lack ample stopping distance, resulting in deadly consequences.
• Tire blowouts: Worn tire tread can lead to the tire exploding, “blowout,” or shredding under pressure, weight, or heat. Truck drivers can lose control of the truck from tire blowouts, causing them to cross over into other lanes.

What Types of Injuries Are Common in Semi-Truck Accidents?

A tractor-trailer’s massive force of impact results in catastrophic accidents with a passenger vehicle. Over 95 percent of truck accidents result in fatalities, and those who survive typically suffer severe and life-altering injuries. Some of the most common injuries include:

• Broken and fractured bones
• Burns
• Disfigurement
• Death
• Nerve damage
• Organ damage
• Psychological trauma
• Severed or crushed limbs
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries

How Can I Avoid an Accident With a Commercial Truck?

Many accidents involving tractor-trailers are caused by other motorists who are driving recklessly or fail to pay attention to a truck’s movements or give them space to maneuver. Tips to avoid an accident with a commercial truck include:

• Avoid the truck’s blind spots.
• Pass quickly and only on the left.
• Avoid cutting off trucks.
• Do not drive between trucks.
• Remain alert and focused when driving near trucks.
• Expect wide turns.
• Increase your following distance.
• Use your signals early and appropriately.
• Only pull over in areas with ample distance from the road and passing traffic.

Our Albuquerque Truck Accident Lawyers at Buchanan Law Firm, LLC Represent Clients Injured in Tractor-Trailer Accidents on I-25

Commercial truck accidents can have devastating, life-altering, and frequently fatal outcomes. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a tractor-trailer, our Albuquerque truck accident lawyers at Buchanan Law Firm, LLC can help. Call 505-900-3559 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we also serve clients in Santa Fe and the surrounding areas.