The most dangerous highway in Louisiana runs straight through the heart of New Orleans. U.S. Route 90 was recently labeled Louisiana’s deadliest road by a recent study. The state’s section of the highway sees an average of 27 fatal crashes each year. As one of the most important highways connecting the Southwest to the South, U.S. Route 90 is utilized by large commercial trucks each day. Unfortunately, rigorous schedules and low pay for drivers are making trucks another source of danger on New Orleans roads.
Hardships of Driving a Truck
Getting paid to explore the nation’s highways sounds like a dream for many people. Unfortunately, this romantic vision does not last for very long for some truck drivers after they experience the less glamorous characteristics of the profession.
Many people do not realize that how much a truck driver is paid and required to work creates dangers on the road. In 2016, large trucks were involved in 4,440 fatal accidents on the nation’s highways. Better pay, less demand to work long hours, and more regulation, would drastically reduce injuries and deaths on roads throughout New Orleans.
In a recent study, researchers found that truckers are asked to work 50 percent more hours than the average American worker. These extended hours mean that truckers are not only expected to work long hours by companies but they are also exhausted while doing so. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration accomplished a comprehensive study that explored the events that led to truck accidents in the United States. This study found an alarming number of drivers who did nothing before a crash, suggesting that they were fatigued or asleep behind the wheel.
How much are truck drivers rewarded for this workload?
One group of researchers estimates that a truck driver is paid between 35 and 40 cents per mile. Often, truckers work unlogged hours loading and unloading their vehicle. More than half of drivers work over the government-regulated 60 hours a week, and as many as 1 in 5 work more than 75 hours a week.
What to Do After a Louisiana Truck Accident?
When a truck driver’s working conditions are a significant cause of an accident, those who are responsible for those conditions must be held accountable. Companies must ensure that their truck drivers are operating their vehicles carefully and, when they fail to do so, they must compensate those they have caused harm to.
If you were injured in a Louisiana truck accident, contact Clayton, Frugé & Ward. For decades, our firm has fought to win for clients. We knows financial stability is the first step to recovery, and we refuse to let our neighbors suffer because of the reckless actions of others. The residents of Louisiana deserve an advocate who will help them through the hardest times in their lives. We understand that your situation is unfair and will fight so it is made right.
Contact our Louisiana truck accident attorneys today at (225) 209-9943 today for a free consultation of your case.