Being involved in an accident with a large truck can cause serious, long-term injuries. The costs of these accidents are usually much higher than accidents between passenger vehicles.
These factors, along with others, result in complicated cases that are more challenging to settle than other motor vehicle accidents. Learn what factors make truck accidents so complex here.
Injuries and damages
The size and weight of commercial trucks alone make the possibility of serious damages and injuries much higher. Truck accidents are more likely to result in fatalities, too.
Most trucks cannot stop quickly, so when an accident occurs, much more force is involved than if it was another passenger vehicle. Trucks also take up more space, which means that when they break down, the possibility of causing an accident is higher. The truck accident case becomes more complex when more serious damages and injuries occur.
Determining liability
The driver of a truck may not be liable for an accident. Some drivers are owner-operators, while others work for a company. Also, the load being hauled is owned by a different company. All these different owners and involved parties make determining liability in truck accidents more challenging.
Regulations and laws
Large trucks must adhere to more laws, regulations, and rules than other drivers do. For example, truck drivers can only drive for a specific number of hours each day. This helps to eliminate cases of fatigue. If these hour limitations are exceeded, the violation can increase the potential of being found negligent for an accident.
Protecting your rights when involved in a truck accident
If you are involved in a truck accident, you have rights. Be sure to contact the authorities, seek medical attention and gather evidence after the accident to protect these rights and recover compensation for your injuries and damages.