When someone is in an auto accident that involves a truck, they might wrongly believe that there is no difference between accidents involving cars and those involving trucks. When a truck is involved in a collision, it is typically more serious and the consequences are worse for both drivers. When you are hit by a truck, your risks for injury are much greater than they would be in the average car accident. There are seven major ways that trucking accidents differ from auto accidents.
1 Trucks have larger Insurance Policies
Due to the additional risks associated with a truck or 18-wheeler, truckers are required to carry insurance policies that are about 50 times larger than an average car insurance policy. The reason their mandatory minimum requirements are so much higher is that when a truck is involved in a car collision the damage done is usually substantially greater, as are the costs of injuries.
The typical truck has to carry policies well over millions of dollars, but that makes the stakes higher for insurance carriers. That is why if you are involved in an accident with a truck, it is even more imperative that you have the protection of a truck accident lawyer. Truck insurance carriers have a responsibility to their company to minimize costs, so they hire the best representation possible. Finding an experienced lawyer will be critical to proving your case.
2 They are guided by different laws
Trucks are monitored and governed by the Federal Motor Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation. That means that they are guided by different laws and standards of care than other vehicles. There are specific ways that trucks are required to be maintained, logbooks that need to be filled out, time limitations that they can work, and inspections that trucks must pass. Due to their enhanced regulations, when they are in a crash, the complexity of finding them at fault increases substantially.
3 They cause more property damage
Due to the sheer weight of a truck, in an accident, there is almost always more damage done to property than when just cars are involved. When a car is hit by a truck, it usually comes out undrivable.
4 They have more severe injuries
Also due to a truck’s weight, in an accident, there is a greater likelihood that someone will be injured and that those injuries will be more severe and debilitating. Not many people walk away from a trucking accident without some pretty major injuries and impairments.
5 They have higher medical costs
Most people involved in trucking accidents need more than just acute care. When you are hit by the weight of a truck, the injuries are usually more severe and come with higher medical costs and more medical treatment. Often, those involved in truck accidents require either short-term or long-term disability, which is a hefty bill to pay.
6 They have an increased risk of a wrongful death suit
People involved in trucking accidents are more likely to die than those who are in car collisions. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, trucking accidents cause as many as 3000-5000 deaths every year. That can result in high-cost wrongful death suits that can total millions of dollars.
7 They require a more experienced lawyer
Since the stakes are so much greater for those involved in trucking accidents, it is imperative that you seek the help of a personal injury attorney. Trucking insurance carriers hire the best and the brightest to protect their assets, which is why it is important for those who need to have their injuries and damages compensated to do the same.
Trucking accidents are usually more complex and serious than other types of auto accidents. If you are injured due to a trucking accident, it is imperative that you hire a lawyer who has experience specifically in trucking accidents. Having an experienced lawyer in your corner is crucial to winning your case and being awarded the compensation that is both necessary and that you are entitled to.