When truck accidents occur, the aftermath of these collisions tends to be catastrophic. When trucks are involved in accidents, the consequences are often severe, not only for the truck driver involved but also for passengers, pedestrians and drivers of other vehicles.
The most obvious reason that truck accidents are so often catastrophic is the size and weight of these vehicles. Commercial trucks, such as semis and eighteen-wheelers, can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when they are fully loaded, which is about 20 to 30 times the weight of a typical car. In a collision, the massive force exerted by a truck can cause devastating damage to smaller vehicles, leading to severe injuries or fatalities. The structural integrity of a passenger vehicle – let alone a motorcyclist, cyclist or pedestrian – is no match for the impact of a heavy truck.
Why truck accidents happen in the first place
There are a few primary reasons why catastrophic truck accidents occur. For example, due to their significant weight, trucks have much longer stopping distances compared to other vehicles. This reality can make it difficult for trucks to react swiftly to sudden traffic changes or obstacles, increasing the risk of high-impact collisions.
Additionally, trucks feature much broader and deeper blind spots than other vehicles have. These “no-zones” are areas around the front, back and sides of the truck where a driver has limited or no visibility. Vehicles that linger in these zones may not be visible to a truck driver, which can impact their decision-making in ways that lead to crashes.
Finally, truck drivers often face grueling schedules and may be pressured to meet demanding delivery deadlines, leading to long, fatigued hours on the road. A tired driver is a dangerous one.
Truck accidents happen for a variety of reasons, and when they do, the results can be catastrophic. As such, it’s important for victims of such crashes to pursue the compensation they’re owed by at-fault parties, given how much is at stake. Calling our firm to learn more about how we can help in this regard is a good way to get started.