There are many factors that can lead to a motor vehicle accident. When it comes to trucks on the road, there are additional factors that should be taken under consideration. This is even more important, considering the additional risks of a truck accident and the likelihood that the accident will lead to more serious and potentially catastrophic or even deadly results.
Trucks on the road, whether they are dump trucks, garbage trucks or 18-wheeler semi-trucks, due to their sheer size and weight, have inherent risks and more dangers than traditional cars on the roads. Although cars have numerous safety provisions including seat belts, airbags in many vehicles, and the car itself, which can act as a shield or barrier against other objects during an accident, they are far more vulnerable to trucks on the road.
Truck drivers also have additional hazards not present for car drivers. Trucks are often more vulnerable to hazardous weather, including flooded roads and cross winds. Trucks, especially trucks carrying heavy payloads, require more time and space to navigate the roads; they are not able to swerve or change lanes as quickly as cars to avoid a hazard, and, due to their added weight, need more time and distance to stop or slow. As stated before, due to this additional size and weight, when an accident occurs between a car and a truck, the car and its occupants often take a majority of the impact and damage.
Truck accident victims may be entitled to compensation for their injuries if it can be proven that negligence played a role in the accident. It may be a truck driver trying to log excessive miles, a trucking company, a truck manufacturer who failed to address a defective part, or a distracted driver that led to the truck accident. If you have been injured in a truck accident, you may wish to consult an attorney to discuss the possibility of filing a lawsuit.
Source: FindLaw, “Common Causes of Truck Accidents,” Accessed Feb. 28, 2017