Why Truck Crashes Have a Bigger Impact on Passenger Vehicles

In 2016, 97 percent of fatality victims in accidents involving a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle were passenger vehicle occupants. This is based on data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). If you’ve been in an injury accident involving a commercial truck, you may benefit from legal representation from our accident lawyers. Commercial truck crashes and the aftermath may have long-term impacts.

Heavier Trucks Generate More Momentum

Larger truck crashes can be especially dangerous for you to be involved in because of the significant weight difference between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles. A typical car weighs anywhere from 2,500 to 4,000 pounds. A commercial truck weighs up to 80,000 pounds depending on its design. Therefore, if both the car and the commercial truck are moving at the same speed at the time of a collision, the larger vehicle is going to run over or through the smaller one.

Cars Can Get Stuck Under Commercial Vehicles

In commercial truck crashes involving passenger cars or trucks, it is not uncommon for the smaller vehicle to be caught under the truck. Truck drivers have a limited range of vision, and demanding drives may cause them to become distracted or lose focus. If your vehicle is caught beneath the truck, it may not be possible for you and your passengers to get out in a timely and safe manner. In some cases, the truck could travel for several miles before the driver realizes that your vehicle is stuck underneath it.

Underride Guards Don’t Always Work

Although commercial trucks may be fitted with underride guards, there is no guarantee that they will work. Therefore, it is important that you always remain aware of what large trucks are doing on the road to prevent an accident from happening. If you were in a vehicle that was caught underneath a large truck, a personal injury lawyer may be able to help with your case. He or she may be able to determine whether a truck had this product installed on it and if it was installed correctly.

What Can You Do to Avoid a Crash?

To avoid a scenario where you experience significant injuries in a crash, be sure to stay out of a truck’s blind spot at all times. Furthermore, you should make it a point to never cut a larger vehicle off as it generally needs more time to brake or make a lane change safely.

If you see a tractor trailer trying to make a left turn at an intersection, give it plenty of room to make the turn. This may mean backing up to provide more space as the tractor trailer could meander into your lane. Even at slow speeds, a collision could result in significant damage to your car and injury to those in the vehicle with you.

What Types of Damages Can You Collect?

In a personal injury case, you may be entitled to collect a wide variety of damages. For instance, it may be possible to obtain reimbursement for current or future medical bills. It may also be possible to collect for lost wages or lost future earnings if you are unable to return to work.

The driver who caused the accident may also be liable for any emotional distress that the collision caused as well as costs incurred to replace damaged property. Depending on the facts of the case, the driver’s employer and other parties may be deemed liable for a crash and responsible for paying some or all of your costs.

If you are looking for a personal injury lawyer to help with your truck accident case, contact RAM Law. We can be reached at our office in New Brunswick by phone at (732) 247-3600. You can also contact us by phone at our location in Somerville by dialing (908) 448-2560. If you prefer, send us a message online at [email protected] to learn more about our services.