Any accident on the road has the potential for devastation. However, truck accidents pose the most catastrophic damages of all. The sheer size and weight of these behemoth vehicles can carve a path of destruction down any roadway.
The U.S. Department of Transportation considers any vehicle that weighs over 10,000 pounds as a large truck. Many of them weigh as much as 80,000 pounds and can be over 65 feet long. Passenger cars weigh between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds, by contrast.
It’s harder for these large vehicles to maneuver as well as stop suddenly. While there are rules and regulations for truck drivers and truck driving companies, they may not always be enough to prevent truck accidents.
What Causes Truck Accidents?
Like those on the roads in regular passenger vehicles, truck accidents often involve intoxicated driving. Operating any kind of motor vehicle while drinking or on drugs is dangerous and often has deadly consequences. Add in the size of a commercial truck and impaired reaction time, and the situation becomes even worse.
Speeding is another factor in truck accidents. Truckers are often tasked with getting shipments from one point to another in a certain amount of time. When they encounter traffic, it can slow them down. They may attempt to make up for lost time by speeding once they get out of the traffic snarl.
Other times, truck drivers are simply distracted, much like other drivers on the road. Even if they aren’t busy looking at their phones, eating, or switching the music on the radio, they may zone out on a long, monotonous drive. In fact, with the long hours they put in, many truckers are driving drowsily along until they can get to their next stop.
In addition to all these factors, a truck accident may not be the truck driver’s fault. If a team of people loaded the truck improperly or maintenance was not performed on the truck as needed, these things could lead to a serious crash.
Consequences of Truck Accidents
Regardless of the many possible causes of truck accidents, the injuries tend to be severe. Often, they are life-long and debilitating, leaving accident victims with neck and back injuries. Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries are also common for those that are involved in a truck accident.
Broken bones, lacerations, and bruises are other injuries you may suffer. You’ll be lucky to be alive if you are in a truck accident since many people do not survive such circumstances.
Truck accident victims or their surviving family members should not be left to drown in debt from medical bills and other expenses. A personal injury claim should be filed quickly to gain compensation for your losses. Victims of truck accidents should consult an attorney to discuss the particulars of their case and file a claim for appropriate compensation.
You may be rendered permanently unable to work and provide for your family. You may also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental conditions following the accident. An experienced attorney can see to it that you get the maximum compensation for everything you’ve endured.
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