At no point in history has it been so easy to purchase consumer goods. It is now possible to order virtually any product you desire with the click of a computer mouse or the tap on the screen of a smartphone. And you can typically expect your newly-bought treasure to arrive in a timely fashion. But we may be paying a higher price for these items than you realize.
You see, the items purchased online are typically transported on tractor trailers for eventual delivery. And the more things Americans order, the greater the demand for truckers to stay on the road as they move the goods from state-to-state and town-to-town.
All of this business puts a strain on two of the most important elements of the trucking industry; the drivers and the trucks. In order to meet delivery schedules, drivers may stay behind the wheel for periods of time that exceed federal regulations. This creates a perfect recipe for truck driver fatigue, which is a leading cause of truck accidents.
And according to one expert, because both truck owner/operators and truck companies want to keep their vehicles rolling as much of the time as possible, they may forgo having the vehicles properly serviced. This means that there are trucks on the road that may have serious brake issues or other mechanical problems.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 100,000 people are injured and 4,000 people are killed in truck accidents annually. And since it is safe to assume that the demand for products ordered over the Internet will not subside anytime soon, we can expect there will continue to be tragedies on the road involving trucks.
If you or a family member have been in a truck accident and need compensation for medical and other expenses, a personal injury attorney could be of service. The attorney could help prove liability and work with insurance companies in pursuit of appropriate recompense.