After you’re involved in a truck accident, your entire life could be turned upside down. Large trucks have the weight necessary to crush smaller passenger vehicles; even a slow-speed collision can be extremely damaging.

In 2012, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported that there were 3,921 people killed and another 104,000 people injured in truck crashes with vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds. In total, 333,000 trucks were involved in traffic crashesaround the United States.

When you’re involved in a collision with this kind of vehicle, there are a few questions you need to ask. First, is the driver licensed? Second, was the driver obeying trucking regulations, like hours of service requirements? You may also want to know if the driver was disobeying traffic laws, as this can lead to an accident no matter what kind of vehicle is being used.

Large trucks are more likely to be involved in fatal multiple-vehicle collisions. According to the data, close to 18 percent of these large-truck drivers who were involved in fatal collisions had previously been convicted of speeding. This could be because of deadlines, which make it harder for drivers to transport their loads without speeding on highways or other roadways.

In total, 1,747 accidents resulting in fatalities took place in North Carolina in 2012. Of those, 132 were caused by large trucks or involved large trucks. If you’ve been a victim of one of these crashes, you do have the right to make a claim. Our website has more on the steps you need to take to seek the compensation you need.