Do Not Assume Semi Trucks Are Safe: Why Truck Accidents Keep Happening

While working for the Truck Safety Coalition, Zach Cahalan has seen the effects of trucking companies that do not make safety a priority. The coalition is a combination of Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH) and Parents Against Tired Truckers (P.A.T.T.), focusing on reducing the number of crashes that lead to death and injury.

The group’s main goals are to provide support to truck crash survivors and the families of fatal wreck victims, as well as educating the public and those in power about truck safety issues. Zach recently joined attorney David Craig on his podcast, After the Crash, to discuss how lack of safety in the industry leads to the continuation of fatal truck accidents.

The video episode is available now on YouTube. You can listen on Spotify, Amazon or other podcast-streaming services.

Get to Know the Guest: An Advocate for Change

Zach Cahalan has served as the Executive Director of the Truck Safety Coalition for three years. He has worked in the nonprofit sector for 15 years, worked with Catholic Charities USA for five years and over 10 years with the American Red Cross.

He has experience with multiple disaster relief operations across the country and was formerly the Chair of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) Advocacy Committee. His background in nonprofit work and advocacy has allowed him to provide compassionate support for those affected by truck accidents, helping them become voices for change.

Key Takeaways from Episode 61: Why Deadly Truck Crashes Keep Happening

Fatalities from trucking accidents have increased 62% since 2009, with over 5,600 deaths from these wrecks in 2023. During Zach’s time with the Truck Safety Coalition, he has seen the many ways companies in the trucking industry avoid safety regulations, ultimately leading to more deadly crashes.

Below are the key takeaways from this month’s episode of After the Crash.

• Safety for commercial motor vehicles is getting worse. Do not assume you won’t be a victim.

Truck companies will do what they must to ensure low costs and drivers on the roads. This can include rubber stamping skills exams for truck drivers to obtain their CDLs, ensuring they “pass” so they can begin driving. While some companies prefer drivers to have a certain number of hours spent driving in the rig before one can earn their CDL, the number required by law is actually zero. And many of these drivers do not have entry level driver training in the truck rigs.

Additionally, drivers must be medically cleared by a doctor before they can drive. Certain conditions, such as sleep apnea and epilepsy, can make driving dangerous in any size vehicle. However, some companies will send drivers who are not cleared to a different doctor for a second opinion, which results in a “clean bill of health”. A prominent example of this is two chiropractors who issued potentially 15,000 fraudulent exams over the span of two years.

Another glaring issue is the safety of the trucks themselves. Based on current inspection data, the industry average is that 1 in 5 trucks should be placed out of service due to safety concerns. Some companies keep their own road safety inspectors on a pay roll to ensure their trucks can continue operating when they should not. Drivers may also be encouraged to avoid weigh stations and other scenarios where their trucks are more likely to be checked. Furthermore, some companies actively avoid installing new safety equipment in vehicles, such as speed limiters and automatic emergency braking, to avoid spending more money.

• Many safety regulations are not enforced.

While truck drivers and their employers must follow certain regulations, they are not often enforced. Lack of enforcement has become more prominent due to a variety of factors, including cuts on police and other government services meant to enforce these regulations, minimal road upkeep and a drastic surge of registered carriers on the roads.

Now, combine these elements with the fact that inspections of these vehicles are currently random. Although there are developments in progress to help identify trucks that may be in violation of these regulations, many of these transgressions are not discovered until after a crash. By then, it’s already too late.

• Victims need to speak up and demand change.

In a time where more and more people are injured or killed because safety is not a priority for these companies, it is important for victims and families of victims to tell their stories. The Truck Safety Coalition helps train people in how to tell their stories so policymakers and others in the industry better understand why safety is important. Even those who are currently working with attorneys to settle can be advocates for change, so long as they do not share confidential details of their case. Advocacy can help victims feel they’re making a difference while going through the legal process.

Victims have more power than they think. One example of how clients can inspire change is through their settlement. A client of David’s refused to settle until the company responsible changed its sleep policy. Exposing these unsafe policies and demanding companies do better can help create a safer trucking industry.

After the Crash Podcast: A Legal Resource for Truck Wreck Victims

After the Crash is currently ranked No. 3 in personal injury podcasts. It is the highest-ranked podcast focusing on personal injury resulting from commercial vehicle wrecks.

The podcast was launched nearly five years ago, in the fall of 2020, by attorney David W. Craig. It educates and empowers listeners in a digestible format. It is primarily aimed at the victims and the families of victims of semi or other large truck accidents.

It is David’s goal to equip listeners with the knowledge necessary to navigate this tough time in their lives. Anyone — truck wreck survivors, legal professionals, healthcare workers, and anyone in between — can tune into After the Crash for free.

A new episode is released monthly, featuring a guest with an important perspective. In each episode, David interviews individuals involved in commercial motor vehicle cases, or experts whose skills are crucial to understanding trucking cases.

Episodes are posted on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon and Apple Podcasts, and the Craig, Kelley & Faultless website.

Injured in a Truck Accident? Craig, Kelley & Faultless Can Help

Attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless are prepared and have the experience to help victims of commercial vehicle wrecks through every aspect of their case.

Their team-centered approach puts client needs at the forefront, and several attorneys will work on your case to achieve the best possible outcome.

Reach out for a free case consultation today at (800) 746-0226 or online.

 

David W. Craig is board-certified in Truck Accident Law and sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families and It’s Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney, both written to help people navigate what comes next after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.