The Differences Between Car and Truck Accidents~2 min read
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were nearly 18,000 vehicle accidents in Texas involving large trucks and cars in 2020. There were more than 600 people killed and close to 10,000 people injured. Some were so severely injured their lives will never be the same.
Although there are more accidents between cars than between cars and trucks, the impact of an 80,000 pound fully loaded truck with a 4,000-pound car is different in a lot of ways than a crash between two 4,000-pound automobiles.
Differences Between Causes of Truck and Car Accidents
Driver error. Car accidents are generally caused by driver error. A driver was speeding, texting, failed to stop at a red light or stop sign or was distracted, for example.
Although the same type of driver error is often the cause of some truck accidents, there are other types of driver error unique to truck drivers.
- Driver does not allow for differences in braking time between a heavy truck and other vehicles.
- Driver does not account for major blind spots in the mirrors on each side of the truck and changes lanes into the path of a car the truck driver did not see.
- Driver is inexperienced or unqualified and should not have been driving a large truck.
- Driver fatigue due to driver’s push to meet a cargo-delivery deadline.
Shifting cargo. If cargo is improperly loaded, especially liquid cargo, it can shift suddenly, causing the driver to lose control.
Equipment malfunction. Drivers and truck owners are both expected to make sure the truck is well-maintained and to keep records of inspections.
More Severe Injuries in Trucking Accidents
Those injured in trucking accidents are more likely to have more serious injuries even if they live through the crash. They suffer brain injuries, spinal cord injuries which may leave them paralyzed, or with a loss of limbs, and more.
Possibility of More Defendants Requiring More Investigation
In addition to holding the driver liable for the truck accident, there may be others who are responsible for the accident. Owners and others who had a part in manufacturing or loading the truck may be responsible for:
- Hiring an unqualified driver.
- Not properly performing maintenance on the truck.
- Requiring the driver to meet an unrealistic delivery time.
- Improperly loading the cargo.
- Not following federal and state regulations applicable to large trucks and that failure is what caused the accident.
If you were injured in an accident with a truck, or someone you love was killed in such an accident, contact our personal injury attorneys at Springer & Lyle for a free consultation. We will discuss with you the circumstances of your accident and help you decide how to proceed.
