Many drivers in our area are wondering why semi-truck accidents on I-80 East are often catastrophic in Salt Lake City. As one of Utah’s most frequented transportation corridors, I-80 East has been the scene for countless people who have seen or been in a serious crash. It runs right through Salt Lake City and acts as a major route for freight being carried on semi-trucks traveling across the United States. When collisions happen on this part of the highway, the results are usually horrible.
Semi-truck accidents on I-80 East are usually not minor. When combining high speeds, large commercial vehicles, congestion from urban areas, and mountainous environments, dangerous conditions where one error can result in life-changing injuries or death are created.
I-80 East: Its Role in Salt Lake City’s Traffic
I-80 East is an important east-west highway that connects Utah to Wyoming and Nevada. It passes through 11 states, with nearly 200 miles within Utah. In Salt Lake City, specifically, it intersects with numerous other major roads, such as I-15, which creates congested patterns of traffic that are made up of tourists, commuters, and commercial trucks.
Such a mix of local drivers and long-distance trucking traffic raises the risk of severe truck accident claims, especially during prime hours of travel, harsh weather conditions, or zones that are under construction. In 2023, Salt Lake County had the second-highest crash rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
Semi-Truck Accidents: Why They Are More Severe
Semi-trucks’ weight can reach up to 80,000 pounds when they are loaded fully. Passenger vehicles, in contrast, weigh much less than that. When a semi impacts a car at high speeds on the highway, physics tends to greatly favor the truck.
Important contributing factors of disastrous outcomes can include:
- Extended stopping distances of semi-trucks
- Inadequate maneuverability
- Enhanced force of impact
- Increased likelihood of multi-vehicle pileups or rollovers
Factors such as these can clarify why injuries in semi-truck accidents are usually extremely serious or even fatal.
I-80 East: High Speeds and Flow of Traffic
Of course, speed is a big influence on the seriousness of truck accidents. On I-80 East, traffic tends to move at or above posted highway speed limits, even during periods of congestion. When a semi-truck is moving at a high speed, any rapid slowdown, sudden obstacle, or sudden lane change can lead to a violent, forceful collision.
At highway-appropriate speeds, trucks need exponentially more distance to safely stop. An untimely reaction can carry consequences that are catastrophic.
I-80 East Semi-Truck Accidents: Common Causes
While every case has its own specific details and circumstances, many semi-truck accidents on I-80 East share common contributing factors, such as:
- Driver fatigue after long hours spent behind the wheel
- Impaired or distracted driving, even if involving GPS use or mobile phones
- Sudden lane changes in congested traffic patterns
- Speeding or the inability to adjust speed to the road’s conditions
- Mechanical issues or failure to brake
Complications from Terrain and Weather
In Salt Lake City, geography and weather both add further layers of danger. As such, I-80 East can be impacted in the following ways:
- During the winter months, ice and snow
- Decreased visibility during fog or storms
- Steep curves and grades
Common Injuries: Semi-Truck Accidents
Due to the involved force, injuries from semi-truck collisions are usually horrendous. They can include paralysis, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, numerous fractures, damage to internal organs, and even fatal injuries. Victims could face drawn-out periods of recovery, lasting disabilities, or the inability to earn an income, which makes the financial and legal effects extreme.
Truck Accident Claims: The Complexity
Usually, truck accident cases are more complicated than regular car accident claims. They tend to involve:
- Numerous liable people
- Commercial insurance plans
- State and federal trucking standards
- Thorough reconstruction of the accident
Insurance providers working for trucking companies are usually relentless and start compiling their defense not long after a crash takes place. When necessary, cases are conducted at the Salt Lake City Justice Court, located at 333 S 200 E, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111.
Need Guidance? Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer
Following a devastating semi-truck accident, choosing to hire a truck accident lawyer can be vital for keeping your rights safe. Trucking organizations and their insurance providers have a lot of resources, and victims of accidents should not have to deal with them by themselves.
FAQs
What Is the Leading Cause of Death on Utah’s Highways?
In Utah, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of accidental death. Factors such as impaired or distracted driving, speeding, and large commercial truck collisions significantly contribute to highway fatalities. Our firm’s attorneys are here and ready to look over the specifics of your case, so we can fight for the compensation you deserve and need to get better.
Can You Survive an 80 MPH Crash?
Surviving an 80mph crash depends on several factors, such as the safety features of a vehicle, the point of impact, and whether a large commercial truck was involved or not. Crashes that take place at 80mph are unbelievably dangerous and usually lead to extreme or lethal injuries, especially when they involve semi-trucks. If you’re a victim of such a crash, our firm can help.
What State Has the Most Semi-Truck Accidents?
States with a lot of freight traffic and dense populations usually report larger numbers of accidents involving semi-trucks. With that said, any prominent transportation corridor, like I-80 East, can see extreme truck accident trends, regardless of the city or state it is in. In Salt Lake City and its surrounding areas, a firm has made its name helping victims of such crashes.
Why Are There so Many Semi Accidents?
The frequency of semi-truck accidents is the way it is for many reasons, such as fatigued drivers, long hours behind the wheel, cluttered roads, and mechanical issues. When safety standards are ignored or conditions are underestimated, accidents become more and more likely. Regardless of how, our firm is here to help you if you have been in a serious truck accident.
Contact a Salt Lake City Truck Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in a semi-truck accident on I-80 East, you don’t have to deal with the aftermath by yourself. Contact the Garner Law Firm today to meet with an experienced Salt Lake City truck accident attorney.
