Will Trucks Become Bigger and Cause More California Truck Accidents?

We see them all the time as we negotiate the Southern California freeway system…big trucks. If the trucking industry has its way, these trucks could become even larger.

That is exactly what Congress will consider this year. Currently, there is an attempt to include an increase in truck size and weight to a transportation spending bill that will be brought before the House.

If the current proposal passes, the current weight limit of 80,000 pounds would increase to 97,000 pounds. Whether you agree with the proposal or not, there are some things that all motorists should consider.

Safety advocates believe that the increase will further damage the fragile American roadways. Currently, one legal 80,000 pound truck will do approximately the same amount of damage to a road than what 9,600 cars will do.

Nearly 5,000 people are killed annually in large truck accidents in the United States. Also note that almost 100,000 people are injured each year.

This may not appear to be problematic, but keep in mind that a truck weighing 100,000 pounds will take 25% longer to come to a stop than an 80,000 pound truck. The results could be devastating to you and your family.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a Southern California truck accident, you should contact one of our experienced San Bernardino truck accident attorneys at Steinberg & Spencer at (800) 989-6385.