The Most Important Differences Between Car and Truck Accidents

Accidents in which two or more regular-sized automobiles collide with one another are significantly different from accidents in which a passenger car collides with a truck.  Auto accidents involving semi-trucks and other massive commercial vehicles have the potential to prove fatal for those in the smaller vehicle.  Even if no one in the passenger vehicle dies, there is a good chance at least one occupant will suffer a serious injury.  The increased likelihood of death or injury is the result of the semi-truck’s massive size.  “These trucks are 20 to 30 times as heavy as the typical automobile traversing the road” says Richard D Schibell, of Schibell & Mennie, LLC.

The average’s truck’s ground clearance is high enough for some passenger vehicles to move below, become trapped or worse.  Sadly, it does not matter much if the truck or passenger vehicle are traveling at a high rate of speed; the sheer mass of a semi-truck can cause a fatal or serious injury even at a low rate of speed.  Let’s take a look at the main differences between passenger vehicle accidents and truck accidents.

The True Cause of the Accident

All sorts of things can go wrong when operating a semi-truck.  Truck drivers have the potential to make mistakes ranging from speeding, to following at the wrong distance, driving while drunk and failing to obtain the proper sleep.  However, some things are out of the truck driver’s control.  The weight of the truck, the size of the load being transported, the driver’s schedule and the big rig’s safety equipment are not fully controlled by the driver.  The true cause of the accident must be identified to obtain compensation.

Injury Severity

The average truck accident typically results in a fatal or serious injury.  Though accidents with trucks traveling at a high rate of speed tend to be the most violent, it is also possible for a low-speed accident with a big rig to cause an injury that requires ongoing medical care.  There is no guarantee your health will ever return to normal after an accident with a massive truck, regardless of the rate of speed.  If you are victimized in a truck accident,  you just might have to deal with physical pain, emotional trauma and financial strain for the rest of your life.  This is precisely why it is prudent to let a truck accident attorney handle your case from the get-go.

The Number of People in the Accident

If the accident in question merely involves a single vehicle and a semi-truck, several parties might be involved.  Truck accident liability might not fall on the truck driver though it might be obvious he or she is guilty of negligence.  This is a commonly used legal term that refers to the failure to provide due care.  Everything from a load lacking the proper security to equipment malfunction and even a strenuous driving schedule might be the fault of those stationed thousands of miles from the accident.

Accident Complexity

Accidents involving commercial vehicles and cars have the potential to be quite complex for several reasons.  The laws that regulate commercial trucking are extremely detailed.  An understanding of the nuances of these laws is imperative to proving the trucker’s liability or his or her employer’s liability.

The Challenge of Securing Financial Compensation

Most trucking businesses and their drivers enjoy top-notch legal defense provided by experienced corporate attorneys.  Even the trucking company’s insurance agency will strive to minimize liability after the collision.  You need a talented truck accident attorney on your side to defeat opposing counsel and obtain the financial compensation appropriate for your injuries.  Otherwise, you will likely end up settling for less money than you deserve or possibly receiving no compensation at all.

Our Truck Accident Attorney is Here to Help

If you are involved in any type of accident with a truck, the most important thing you can do is receive immediate medical treatment.  The next step is to meet with our truck accident attorneys lead by Richard Schibell.  We will review your case, gather evidence and identify the true cause of the accident.  This is the essential information we need to establish fault and make the case for significant financial compensation.  The alternative is to do legal battle with opposing counsel on your own, navigate the insurance maze and likely end up with little-to-no compensation.  The sad truth is corporate truck attorneys prey on those who represent themselves in a pro se manner.  There is absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain by meeting with our truck accident attorney Richard Schibell.

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