A Truck Accident Is Not Like A Car Accident
Brian O Sutter
Traffic Accidents
We have experienced car crash lawyers that can help our clients when they get involved in accidents, but we’d like to point that while all car accidents will usually involve an impact with something at some point in the accident, that’s where similarities end with other accidents. There’s a huge difference between car accidents and truck accidents and that is why when you talk to a car crash lawyer at our firm, you’ll be able to deal with someone that specializes in trucking accidents. Here’s why.Physics Is Not In Your Favor
A typical automobile will weigh about 3000 lbs. Depending on the type of cargo a large truck is hauling, it may weigh up to 80,000. In a collision between these two vehicles moving at the same speed, the sheer mass, and energy of a truck in motion is going to win in a confrontation between these two vehicles every single time.
This means that, tragically, in a car versus truck confrontation, even for people that are seat-belted and have protection from airbags, there is still a much higher chance of severe injury for occupants of a car than there is for the driver of a truck. Depending on how the accident occurred, anything from amputations to spinal damage, brain damage or even death can be the final result.
Placing Fault Correctly
Another added complexity that comes with trucking accidents is that it is not always as simple as blaming the driver for the accident. For example, if you are lawfully driving behind a truck that is hauling freight when the freight itself comes loose and you collide into the cargo, things change a lot. In this case, the driver may not be at fault at all, the problem may lie with the cargo itself, in which case the owners of the cargo may be at fault, or it may be a problem with the trailer that was carrying the cargo, which would mean that the trailer manufacturer is responsible instead.
A truck being used to complete a cargo hauling job has many different people and companies involved. Beyond just the truck driver, a different company may own the truck, the trailer, the cargo, or even be responsible for maintaining the condition of the truck and/or trailer. Anyone of these parties, or even a combination of them, may be responsible for an accident on the road if it’s clear that it wasn’t the truck driver’s fault.
The Future Of Trucks
Sometime within the next 20 years, we may see the disappearance of the truck driver as self-driving truck fleets become the norm for freight hauling around America. This is already being tested in Florida and the data is being studied. But until that time when trucks with an array of sensors, cameras, and recording devices are out on the road, bringing clear records of what happened during a trucking accident, a car crash lawyer is still going to be an important source of guidance. If you’re in an accident with a truck, contact an experienced professional.