Studies planned to determine why these accidents are happening more frequently in certain locations throughout the state.
A recent review by The Herald-Dispatch determined that there have been seven trucking accidents in the past year and a half in a small stretch of Interstate 64. These accidents have all resulted in the trucks rolling over, which places several motorists at the risk of suffering serious injuries if they are involved in the crashes.
The particular area of concern is near Huntington. When analyzing the trucking accidents that occurred, it has been determined that in many cases, the cargo of the vehicles may have played a role in the crashes. Truck drivers have either been traveling too fast through the region, or, failed to properly secure their loads before heading out.
The West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) has been concerned about these crashes, and will be devoting more resources to inspect commercial vehicles traveling through the state. The PSC has received a grant from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the federal agency responsible for overseeing the trucking industry, to perform these inspections, in the hopes that they can spot some of the unsafe vehicles before they cause serious accidents.
Officials have pledged to focus on the most accident-prone regions, but the stretch of I-64 is not included in the provisional list. The PSC will be active on I-77, I-70, I-81 and the West Virginia Turnpike, as well as several other state highways where accidents have been common. Most of these regions are close to shale drilling jobsites, where there are more trucks traveling into and out of these locations.
If you have been injured in a trucking accident, you need to understand the steps that you must take to protect your potential claims. It is essential that you contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney will be able to provide you with the advice you need as you determine what will be best for you and your family.
Trucking accident cases can be very complex, and it is important that you have an opportunity to review your case with someone who has handled similar matters in the past. This will allow you to learn the value of your claims, and also provide you with an overview of the process.
Many of these cases settle before trial, but, you need to be certain that you know how a settlement will impact your financial future. While it may seem like a good idea to resolve your claims, you must be sure that you are receiving a fair offer. The insurance companies are not on your side, and you need to protect your interests.
