Kevin E. Donohoe Law Office
Kevin E. Donohoe Law Office
Kevin E. Donohoe Law Office
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Representing The People Of Central Idaho

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Understand Your Rights To Full Compensation After A Car Or Semi Collision

Most of us are on the roads at some point during the day. We may have to share the road with another driver or a long-haul trucker heading from Boise or Meridian. When another driver is not paying attention, is driving aggressively or is not following the rules and this causes an injury, it’s time to talk to an attorney about your rights. When the other driver is driving a big rig or semi truck, the injuries can be more serious.
My only clients at Kevin E. Donohoe Law Office are those who have suffered injuries or losses of loved ones. As an attorney with four decades of success helping injured clients, I understand personal injury law. I offer straightforward advice and representation. I’ll let you know if I can help right away. Call me at 208-725-8810 to set up a free consultation.

Why Truck Crashes Are Different

The odds of a commercial driver being involved in a safety-critical event are 23.3 times greater when a driver is texting while driving. Texting drivers take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds at a time. At 55 mph, this is about the distance of traveling the length of a football field while blindfolded. Similarly, dialing a mobile phone while driving increases the odds of being involved in a safety-critical event by a factor of six.

Due to the size and weight disparity between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle, the drivers and passengers of cars often suffer severe or fatal injuries in collisions with trucks. Once a collision has occurred, trucking companies and their insurers are prepared to immediately investigate the crash and minimize the responsibility of the truck driver and the trucking company. Because the trucking company has control of much of the evidence, such as driver logbooks, rig maintenance reports and black boxes (event data recorder devices), it is important to immediately seize these. All too often, crucial evidence is lost in the hours or days after a crash.

Collisions caused by speeding, intoxicated or distracted drivers account for almost all injury and fatal crashes. The normal legal weight for an 18-wheeler commercial truck is 40 tons (80,000 pounds). An average automobile weighs around 3,500 pounds. With good road conditions, the average stopping time of a loaded semi truck traveling the posted speed limit for trucks is 40% greater than that of a car.

What Causes Truck And Car Crashes?

There are many things that can contribute to a crash. Most of the time, it is driver error. This can include drivers who are:

  • Texting
  • Eating, drinking or otherwise distracted
  • Drunk or on drugs
  • Speeding
  • Encountering road debris, pavement buckles, animals or other obstacles
  • Not modifying their driving for the road conditions, visibility or the weather
  • Driving recklessly

Trucking companies, truck owners and truck drivers can all be responsible for a collision. When a trucking company does not train its drivers, does not allow them adequate breaks and does not do required safety checks, accidents happen. When trucking company managers or owners force drivers to meet unreasonable deadlines and do not ensure proper cargo loading, accidents can happen.

When truck drivers text, fall asleep or use drugs or alcohol while on the road, everyone else on the road is at serious risk. Additionally, when parts manufacturers do not process recalls or adhere to manufacturing standards, parts can malfunction or fail. This can also be the root cause of a crash.

If your injury was the result of another driver or a trucker’s reckless, aggressive or distracted behavior, please call and talk to me. If you lost a loved one in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you may want to discuss your option for a wrongful death claim.

Get Straightforward Counsel After A Crash

As an attorney with 30 years of experience with personal injury matters, I am able to quickly ascertain whether you have a case and how I can help. Set up a free meeting with me. Call 208-725-8810 or send an email query. I have an office in Hailey and serve injured clients in southern Idaho.