Thousands of truck accidents occur every year. A truck accident is a vehicle collision that includes tractor-trailers, 18- wheelers, and semi-trucks. Most truck accidents lead to lengthy traffic jams, expensive insurance claims, and even injuries or fatalities. While all automobile collisions can be traumatic, truck accidents tend to be more catastrophic. Here are a few key factors that differentiate truck accidents from car and motorcycle accidents.
- Size and weight of the vehicle. Trucks are bigger and heavier than your average automobile. While an average passenger vehicle weighs anywhere from 3,000 – 5,000 pounds a commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, impacting the amount of damage that can occur.
- Greater chance of injury. The heavier weight and size of a tractor-trailer can also cause a greater impact during the accident. Tractor-trailers have a much greater potential to cause harm to the victims involved in the accident.
- Rules and regulations. When it comes to commercial trucks, the rules are slightly more intricate than your standard passenger vehicles. Federal trucking regulations have strict rules covering everything from the number of hours the driver is able to drive to the height of the truck. The truck driver is also required to pass a certain prerequisite before driving the vehicle. If the driver is involved in an accident without the proper training then the respective tractor-trailer company could be held liable for the accident.
Because of the intricacy of a truck crash, it is recommended that victims hire a personal injury lawyer. Evaluating these types of cases require attention to detail and knowledge of trucking laws. If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident, call Potter Burnett Law today.