In mid-February, a 72-year-old public works truck driver for the city of Columbus, Ga. was charged with failure to yield and misdemeanor vehicular homicide in connection with a car crash that resulted in the death of a 63-year-old victim.
In late January, a 65-year-old truck driver crashed into a church parking lot resulting in extensive damage.
The common denominator in both cases is the issue of senior truck drivers.
In this issue, the Alaska personal injury lawyers with Barber & Associates will talk more about whether older truck drivers are causing the nation’s highways to be more dangerous.
If you’ve been injured in a large truck accident, we urge you to contact the Alaska personal injury lawyers with Barber & Associates. We’ll aggressively fight on your behalf to secure justice and compensation to cover medical bills and lost wages.
For a free consultation, call us at 907-276-5858 or send an email.
Is there an increase in older truck drivers?
A CBS News report confirmed that, because the nation’s trucking industry is dealing with a severe shortage of drivers, some trucking companies are eagerly recruiting retirees.
In fact, truck drivers over 65 comprise about 10% of commercial vehicle operators.
Why are seniors driving large trucks?
In most cases, it’s simply a fact that more people are working past the age of 65, the normal age of retirement.
In fact, some large truck drivers begin their trucking career after they’ve retired from a different career and see it as a way to see the country.
As deputy administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said the agency is reviewing the trend in more accidents involving senior truck drivers.
“We are not quite at the point yet where we are ready to say one way or another if there needs to be a change in rules for drivers over 65,” she said.
Are older truck drivers causing more accidents?
The CBS News report confirmed a 19% increase in accidents involving truck drivers well into their 70s and 80s.
Over a three-year period between 2013-2015, there were in excess of more than 6,600 accidents involving senior truck drivers in just 12 states.
If you’re injured in a large truck accident, call the Alaska personal injury lawyers at Barber & Associates.
If you’re injured by a large truck, it’s definitely in your best interest to leverage the expertise and skill set of a skilled Alaska personal injury lawyer.
Here at Barber & Associates, we’ve earned our reputation for aggressively fighting on behalf of Alaskans injured by others. We’ll fight on your behalf for justice and fair compensation so that you can concentrate completely on your recovery.
For a free consultation about your case, call us at 907-276-5858 or reach us via email.