Why Truck Accidents Can Have Devastating Consequences
A truck accident can have severe consequences, from serious injuries to fatalities. This is because of a number of reasons, the chief among them being the sheer weight of the truck. Trucks are heavy-duty vehicles built for extreme loads and rough terrain and tend to be 20 to 40 times heavier than the standard car. At the same time, trucks ferry various cargo, and some may be hazardous. Due to the dangerous nature of truck accidents, truck drivers face higher regulations and more stringent safety standards than the average driver.
However, even with such standards, such accidents are still likely to happen. Factors such as the driver’s expertise, load type, truck, and road conditions can all affect the outcome of an accident. With these factors in mind, if you manage to walk out of a truck accident, you should consider yourself lucky and contact an experienced lawyer like attorney Felix Gonzalez as soon as possible.
Reasons Why Truck Accidents Are Exceptionally Dangerous
The following are the primary reasons why truck accidents tend to be particularly dangerous for truck drivers themselves, as well as pedestrians and those in other vehicles on the road:
Size and Weight
When unloaded, the average truck weighs just shy of 20,000 pounds. When loaded, this figure shoots up to 80,000 pounds. In contrast, the standard vehicle weighs 4000 pounds. With this considerable weight difference, the impact force during an accident is significantly increased, which ultimately makes such crashes all the more fatal.
Stopping Distance
The considerable weight of trucks affects various aspects of driving these vehicles. For instance, a truck’s stopping distance is significantly longer than a normal car’s due to its sheer weight. Therefore, truck drivers must allow themselves an appropriate distance before coming to a stop in case of backed-up traffic or suddenly braked vehicles. Otherwise, they risk causing fatal accidents and rear-ending other vehicles.
Maneuverability
While you can make sudden maneuvers in standard vehicles, it is much more difficult to do safely when you are driving a truck. Due to the large size and weight, any sudden maneuvers can easily result in the vehicle toppling over or crashing. While the driver may have no fault in such situations due to the circumstances being out of their control, they can be held liable if they were distracted, which needed them to make the sudden maneuver.
Hazardous Cargo
Having hazardous cargo onboard makes a truck accident all the more fatal. This is why trucks and drivers carrying such cargo require further certification. Truck accidents can emanate from mishandled cargo, improper loading, and when the driver flouts regulations. The chain of parties that may hold liability for such accidents is quite long. They include the driver, the loading company, the loaders, the cargo manufacturers, and the truck owner.
Loose Cargo
Loose cargo is yet another common cause of truck accidents. When cargo is improperly or not secured, it can result in shifting while driving, which impacts truck stability and reduces control over the vehicle. Loose cargo can also cause trucks to shift on their axis. In such cases, the loading team is most likely to be held responsible as they owe a duty of care by ensuring the cargo is appropriately secured.
Blind Spots
Most commercial trucks tend to have large blind spots due to their vast size. Drivers have to constantly check their blind spots, especially when changing lanes or merging. Accidents that occur due to them are seen as the driver’s fault, as it is their responsibility to check their blind spots, especially before merging or changing lanes.
Conclusion
Commercial truck accidents are some of the most dangerous incidents on the road due to factors such as the size and weight of the truck, reduced maneuverability, hazardous cargo onboard, and much more. If you find yourself involved in a truck accident, you should contact a personal injury lawyer to help you get the due compensation and hold the at-fault party responsible.
