Why Are Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
Truck accidents are among the most devastating vehicle collisions on roads and highways nationwide. When a massive 18-wheeler or semi-truck collides with a much smaller passenger vehicle, the results are often catastrophic injuries or even fatalities for the occupants of the car.
If you suffered injuries in a crash with a large commercial truck, speak with an experienced truck accident attorney who can protect your rights and pursue the compensation you need and deserve.
The Dangers of Truck Accidents
What makes truck accidents more dangerous than other motor vehicle crashes? There are several key factors:
Size and Weight Difference
The most obvious reason truck accidents tend to be so severe is the huge size and weight discrepancy between large commercial trucks and regular passenger vehicles. A fully-loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average car weighs just 4,000 pounds. That’s a 20-to-one weight ratio. In a collision, the occupants of the much smaller and lighter vehicle almost always fare far worse.
When a massive truck slams into a car, the sheer force of the impact can crush the smaller vehicle, causing devastating damage. Occupants can suffer traumatic injuries like broken bones, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and more. Too often, the injuries prove fatal.
High Speeds
Truck accidents frequently occur on highways and interstates where vehicles travel at high speeds, often 65 to 75 mph or even faster in some areas. The higher the speed, the greater the force of impact in a collision and the more destructive the injuries tend to be.
Due to their size and weight, trucks are also much harder to slow down or maneuver to avoid a crash at high speeds. A loaded tractor-trailer traveling at 65 mph needs about 525 feet to come to a complete stop—that’s nearly the length of two football fields. So, when traffic suddenly slows or a car cuts in front of a speeding truck, the truck driver may not avoid slamming into vehicles ahead.
Dangerous Cargo
Another factor that can make truck accidents so devastating is the cargo the big rigs may be hauling. Some trucks carry hazardous materials like toxic chemicals, corrosive substances, flammable liquids, or even explosives.
If the truck is involved in a crash, the dangerous cargo can spill out onto the roadway, exposing accident victims and emergency responders to additional harm. Some substances may ignite or explode, and toxic chemicals can cause burns, respiratory problems, and other health issues.
Even trucks carrying standard cargo can pose added dangers in an accident. If items are not properly secured, a crash can cause the cargo to shift or even fly off the truck, hitting other vehicles. Some trucks carry very heavy cargo like large equipment, concrete pipes, or steel beams. Such massive objects slamming into a passenger vehicle in an accident can be disastrous.
Jackknifing and Rollovers
The design of tractor-trailers, with the cab pulling a hinged trailer behind it, makes them prone to two extremely dangerous accident scenarios – jackknifing and rollovers. Jackknifing occurs when the trailer swings out to the side, often when a truck driver slams on the brakes or swerves suddenly. The cab and trailer can fold in on each other at a 90-degree angle, resembling a folding pocket knife – hence the term “jackknifing.”
When a truck jackknifes, the driver completely loses control as the massive vehicle skids across the road, often sideswiping or slamming into multiple other vehicles. The out-of-control truck can end up stretched across multiple lanes, putting everyone in its path at risk.
Rollovers are another truck accident nightmare scenario. Because of their high center of gravity, large trucks are prone to rolling over, especially when going around curves, taking exit ramps too fast, or swerving to avoid something on the road.
A truck that rolls over will often skid along on its side, crushing smaller vehicles in its path. Any car next to a truck that suddenly tips over can be flattened underneath it.
Catastrophic Injuries
Because of the size of trucks and the force of collisions, truck accident injuries are often far more severe than those sustained in crashes involving passenger vehicles only. Survivors of truck accidents may suffer harm, such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Crushed or amputated limbs
- Severe burns
- Internal organ damage
- Broken or shattered bones
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
Many truck accident victims face a long, difficult, and expensive road to recovery. Some may require multiple surgeries, extensive rehabilitation, and round-the-clock care.
Catastrophic injuries can leave survivors permanently disabled and unable to work or care for themselves. The medical expenses can quickly become overwhelming, and many families struggle under the financial burden, especially if the primary breadwinner cannot work.
The tragic reality is that many people hurt in truck accidents do not survive. Thousands of people die each year in the U.S. due to crashes involving large trucks. For the families left behind, the grief of losing a loved one so suddenly and unnecessarily is compounded by the financial strain of losing an income and struggling to pay for a funeral and unexpected bills.
Truck Driver Negligence
In far too many devastating truck accidents, the crash was due to negligent or reckless driving behavior on the truck driver’s part. Some common examples include:
Speeding or Driving Too Fast for Conditions
One of the most common causes of truck accidents is speeding or driving too fast for the current road or weather conditions. When truck drivers are speeding, they have even less time and distance to react if traffic suddenly slows or they encounter an obstacle in the road.
Excessive speed also makes it harder for truck drivers to maintain control of their vehicles, especially when navigating curves, exit ramps, or rough road conditions. Speeding trucks are more likely to jackknife or rollover, putting everyone on the road at risk.
Even if a truck driver exceeds the posted speed limit, they may still be traveling too fast for current conditions such as heavy rain, snow, ice, fog, or road construction. Truck drivers should adjust their speed to maintain control and stop safely if needed.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a major problem among truck drivers and a leading cause of accidents. Long hours on the road can be monotonous, and drivers may be tempted to engage in distracting behaviors to help pass the time. Some common distractions include:
- Texting or talking on a cell phone
- Eating or drinking
- Adjusting the radio or navigation system
- Reading maps or paperwork
- Watching videos on a smartphone or tablet
When operating a massive semi-truck, taking one’s eyes off the road for even a few seconds can be incredibly dangerous. At highway speeds, a truck can travel the length of a football field in just five seconds. If the driver is distracted and not looking at the road during that time, they may not see slowing traffic or other hazards in time to avoid a crash.
Fatigued Driving
Truck drivers often spend long hours behind the wheel, and fatigue is a major factor in many truck accidents. Federal hours of service regulations limit the number of hours truckers can drive daily and weekly, but some drivers or companies may ignore these rules to meet tight delivery deadlines.
Fatigued driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Drowsy drivers have slower reaction times, decreased alertness, and impaired decision-making abilities. They may drift out of their lane, fail to see other vehicles or obstacles, or even fall asleep at the wheel.
Truck drivers pressured by their employers to drive beyond the allowable hours or skip mandatory rest breaks are putting everyone on the road at risk. Trucking companies that encourage or turn a blind eye to hours of service violations can be liable if a fatigued driving accident occurs.
Impaired Driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs (including prescription and over-the-counter medications), or extreme fatigue is incredibly dangerous for anyone, but especially for truck drivers operating 80,000-pound vehicles. Impaired driving kills thousands of people each year and is a major cause of devastating truck accidents.
Alcohol and drugs can impair a driver’s judgment, coordination, reaction time, and ability to safely drive. Even small amounts of alcohol can be dangerous for commercial truck drivers. That’s why the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for truck drivers is just 0.04 percent, half the limit for passenger vehicle drivers.
Some truck drivers may turn to stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine to help them stay awake during long hauls. However, these drugs can lead to erratic and aggressive driving behaviors. As the effects wear off, drivers may experience sudden and extreme fatigue.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving behaviors like tailgating, weaving through traffic, cutting off other vehicles, and excessive speeding are dangerous for any driver, but especially for operators of large commercial trucks. These behaviors reduce the time and space truck drivers have to react to changing traffic conditions and increase the risk of a crash.
Some of the reasons truck drivers may engage in aggressive driving include:
- Pressure to meet unrealistic delivery deadlines
- Frustration with traffic congestion or other drivers
- Road rage or anger management issues
Trucking companies are responsible for training their drivers in safe driving practices and not creating policies or cultures that encourage aggressive driving. If a company fails in this duty, it can be accountable if an aggressive driving accident occurs.
Failing to Check Blind Spots
Large commercial trucks have significant blind spots on all four sides, especially along the sides of the trailer. If truck drivers fail to properly check these blind spots before changing lanes or merging, they can easily sideswipe or run other vehicles off the road.
Truck drivers must be constantly aware of other vehicles and use their mirrors to check blind spots before making any lateral movements. Failure to do so can result in catastrophic accidents, as smaller passenger vehicles caught in a truck’s blind spot may be crushed or forced into other lanes of traffic.
Why You Need a Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accident cases tend to be far more complex than typical car accident claims for several reasons:
Potential Liable Parties in Truck Accidents
One reason truck accident cases can be so complex is that several different parties may share blame for the crash.
These can include:
The Truck Driver
In many cases, the truck driver’s negligent actions directly caused the accident. This can include speeding, distracted driving, fatigued driving, impaired driving, or failing to follow traffic laws.
The Trucking Company
Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring their drivers are qualified, properly trained, and following safety regulations. If they fail in this duty, such as by hiring drivers with poor safety records or encouraging drivers to break hours of service rules to meet deadlines, they can be held liable for resulting accidents.
Cargo Loaders
If a truck’s cargo is not loaded properly or securely, it can shift during transport and cause the driver to lose control or the truck to tip over. The company or individuals responsible for loading the cargo may be accountable if their negligence contributed to the crash.
Truck Manufacturers
If a defect in the design or manufacturing of the truck or one of its parts (such as the tires, brakes, or steering system) caused the accident, the manufacturer may be liable.
Determining fault in a truck accident case can be challenging with so many potential parties involved. An experienced attorney will know how to investigate the crash thoroughly to identify all liable parties and hold them accountable.
Trucking Companies Have Resources
Trucking companies know that accidents can result in massive payouts to crash victims. That’s why they have teams of insurers, experts, and defense lawyers on call, ready to jump into action as soon as a crash occurs.
The trucking company’s representatives may show up at the crash scene to gather evidence and build their case immediately. They may look for ways to shift blame for the accident onto the other driver, even if their own driver was clearly at fault.
These representatives are not on your side and do not have your best interests at heart. Their goal is to limit the trucking company’s liability and pay you as little as possible. That’s why you need your own experienced truck accident attorney to fight for your rights and make sure you are treated fairly.
Multiple Insurance Companies May Be Involved
Another factor that makes truck accident cases so complex is that there are often several different insurance companies involved. The truck driver, trucking company and other potentially liable parties may all have separate insurance policies. Dealing with multiple insurers can be challenging, as each one will likely try to pass the buck and avoid paying out on the claim.
The insurance adjusters may pressure you to give a recorded statement or accept a quick settlement offer. However, it’s crucial to remember that the insurance companies are not on your side. Their goal is to protect their bottom line and pay out as little as possible.
An experienced truck accident lawyer will know how to handle the insurance companies and negotiate effectively on your behalf. They can communicate with the insurers for you, protect your rights, and fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a truck accident, don’t wait to get the legal representation you need. Contact a skilled truck accident attorney today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Many truck accident lawyers work on a contingency basis, so you pay no upfront costs or legal fees unless you win your case. Reach out to a personal injury attorney to get started today.