Even though all types of auto accident are dangerous and have the potential to cause life-altering injuries, truck accidents are nearly, if not always catastrophic or fatal. Unfortunately, they’re becoming quite common. According to the Truck Safety Coalition, about 5,000 people died in truck crashes last year, marking a 46% increase in truck crash deaths since 2009. Understanding how truck and car accidents differ is the key to improving road safety for every road user.
Discussed herein are reasons why truck accidents tend to be more devastating than car accidents:
The average car weighs between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds. Even the biggest SUV is usually about 5,000 pounds. Trucks on the other hand are much larger. An axle truck weighs 34,000 pounds on its own. Add in a trailer and cargo, and its weight can push up to 80,000 pounds.
This extreme size and weight difference between a truck and a regular vehicle means that even a minor collision between the two ends up in devastating results.
Unfortunately, the regular car often bears the brunt of the impact. What would be a minor fender-bender between two ordinary cars may leave the passenger car completely wrecked, and its parties severely injured when involved in a crash with a truck.
With regular passenger cars, there’s absolutely no risk of jackknife or runaway trucks. However, when it comes to trucks, even if the driver is being careful and following all the relevant road rules, there’s always a chance the trailer might jackknife due to coupling malfunctions or its weight.
The result? Any oncoming car will crash into it, and the results may be catastrophic if not fatal. Besides jackknifing, the coupling may come apart, resulting in a runaway trailer. The results are even more tragic since the trailer has no control, and will crash through pretty much anything that’s on its path.
Truck accidents are generally devastating than regular accidents because of their size and weight alone. However, they become even more severe due to the cargo they carry. A truck may not collide with a regular car, but if it rolls over, it may spill heavy cargo onto nearby vehicles.
What’s more, the cargo may be flammable or toxic which further increases the risk of fatalities since a spill may cause an explosion, fire, or exposure at the accident scene.
Although passenger to passenger car accidents are no better, such risks are often not much of a concern.
Truck accident claims are different from regular vehicle accident claims because the risks is often high and the injuries tend to be more severe. However, other than that, when it comes to a truck accident, you’ll be dealing with more than just the driver. When passenger to passenger car crashes occur, you’ll only deal with the other driver. But when you’re involved in a truck accident, the following parties are often liable:
In other words, truck accidents are more complex to navigate. Therefore, it is advisable that you get yourself a truck accident attorney as soon as possible.
Remember, most if not all, trucking companies, truck manufacturers, freight brokers, or any other parties mentioned above usually employ the best possible commercial insurers. It’s only sensible you do the same. Get in touch with our team today to schedule a free consultation.
blogs
Bicycle Safety Tips
Bicycling might be the true essence of freedom in transportation. No dependence on anyone to get around except yourself, no motor to make you drive out of control, and you can park your bike just about anywhere. Still, safety while riding a bicycle is just as important as with any other mode of transportation, especially […]
Benefits of a Dashboard Camera
As we all know, the streets and highways of California can be a wild place and accidents can happen. Collisions can range from disorienting to terrifying, and reconstructing the events around a crash can be a challenge in some cases. While there are more street and traffic light cameras than ever before, obviously not every angle of […]
Pedestrian Safety
For obvious reasons, there’s much more discussion out there about safe driving, or even safe bicycle riding, than there is about being a safe pedestrian. After all, it seems like we should just be able to walk safely down a street, and especially where pedestrians have right of way, walking seems like the safest option. […]
Looking Out for Motorcycles
In 2019, the number of deaths caused by motorcycles was found to be 29 times that of deaths caused by cars. Motorcycles can go very fast, they have no sides to protect the rider, they are more difficult to see on the road and they do not perform well in bad weather. While it is […]
Lemon Laws and How They Have Impacted Jeep Car Recalls
Lemon Laws and How They Have Impacted Jeep Car Recalls Purchasing a car calls for careful consideration if you are to find a reliable model that suits your needs. More importantly, you need to understand existing laws concerning the warranty, equity, insurance, and various other crucial aspects. Lemon laws are designed to protect buyers from […]
Courtroom Movies for the Holidays
As winter sets in, the holiday season has truly begun. Many of us are looking forward to seeing our loved ones, some of us for the first time in a long time. Besides feasts and fireside chats, a lot of families have a tradition of gathering together and watching a holiday classic. Through the years, […]
Defensive Driving Courses in California
Driving is one of those things most learn as a teenager and then never really think about again. Most people don’t realize that driving classes are not just helpful for continuing your driving knowledge, they are also applicable for many practical situations as well. Let’s look at some of the benefits of defensive driving courses, […]
Top Three Scenic Motorcycle Routes in California
California is among the most beautiful destinations in the country. The raw beauty of our state is part of the reasons why myriads of people move here every day. From miles of pristine beaches, breathtaking lakes, picturesque deserts, to rugged but awe-inspiring terrains like Yosemite, the geographic diversity of the Golden State is simply mesmerizing. […]
Tips for Avoiding Car Accidents
Whether you’re driving in a place where the environment is a little more driver-friendly, or if you’re somewhere where the weather poses a driving hazard, you can’t go wrong having a working knowledge of how best to avoid accidents. In 2020 alone, there were nearly 36,000 fatal motor vehicle accidents in the United States. Those […]
Workman’s Compensation — When to Hire an Attorney
Workman’s Compensation is a right for all employees in California. It seems like a simple idea, and one designed with the workers’ best interests in mind. The truth, unfortunately, can be a lot more complicated than that. Avoid learning this lesson out the hard way by hiring a qualified attorney as soon as you are […]
contact form
