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Comparing Truck Accidents and Car Accidents

Truck Accidents vs. Car Accidents

August 18, 2020

If you have been hurt in an accident, you might assume that the process of filing a claim is the same regardless of what kind of vehicle is involved. After a car accident, you may work with your insurer to cover expenses, or pursue compensation from the other driver’s insurance company.

However, claims involving truck accidents are very different from cases involving other types of vehicles. A variety of factors make trucking accident litigation more complicated than car crash lawsuits, which is why it is crucial to hire an experienced lawyer who can help you navigate the complexities of your case.

The Karl Truman Law Office has extensive experience in truck accident cases. For a free case review in or around Louisville, Kentucky, please call us at (502) 222-2222. If you were injured in a truck wreck in Jeffersonville or a nearby area of Indiana, please call (812) 282-8500 today.

1. The Size of the Vehicles

The most self-evident reason semi truck accidents are different from claims arising from car, pickup truck, and SUV collisions is the disparity in the size and weight of the vehicles. Tractor trailers are as long as 5 passenger vehicles parked bumper to bumper, and they can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds when fully loaded.

The extra weight and length of these vehicles means:

  • Semi trucks take longer to stop on average than smaller vehicles
  • Accidents occur with greater force
  • Trucks have larger blind spots, creating visibility issues that can increase the likelihood of an accident

Another difference is the construction of the tractor trailer. In the event of a malfunction or driver error, the trailer can move in a different direction than the cab, as in cases of jackknife accidents and trailer detachments.

2. The Extent of Injury

Car accidents can result in serious, life-altering injuries. However, the probability of severe injury in a truck accident is much higher. This is due in part to the difference in size and weight between a passenger vehicle and an 18-wheeler, as well as the speeds at which semi truck accidents often occur.

Some of the serious injuries that can occur in a truck accident include:

Sadly, truck accidents resulting in fatalities are also not uncommon.

3. The Amount of Compensation

Victims suffer extensive damages in cases of serious injury and wrongful death. As a result, the amount of compensation sought in truck accident claims tends to be higher than in car accident cases.

After a truck accident, your economic and noneconomic losses are likely significant. You may be facing extensive medical bills and lost income from being unable to work. You may endure daily pain and suffering from your injuries and the trauma of the accident. And, if you lost a loved one, you are likely overwhelmed emotionally and financially.

When you hire an attorney to handle your truck accident case, he or she will take into account all of the losses you have suffered and file a claim on your behalf. The insurance company (or insurance companies) will try to pay you as little as possible, but it is worth fighting for the compensation you need and deserve to move forward with your life.

4. The Parties Involved

Generally, car accident claims revolve around the negligence of one or more drivers. Each driver’s insurance company will likely be involved, but the parties in the case typically end there.

This is not the case with truck accidents. In addition to the truck driver, you may need to file a claim against:

  • The trucking company
  • The manufacturer of the truck, trailer, or a part on the vehicle
  • The company that services the tractor trailer
  • The company that loaded the truck

Liability in truck accident claims is complicated. Further complicating matters is the fact that each of these parties may have its own insurance company, which will assuredly try to pass the blame and avoid paying you what is fair.

Because multiple parties may be at fault in a semi truck accident, your lawyer will need to perform a comprehensive investigation to determine which parties’ negligence resulted in your injuries. After filing your claim, your attorney will handle negotiations with the various parties and insurance companies on your behalf.

5. Trucking Laws & Regulations

Semi trucks are commercial vehicles. As a result, truckers, their employers, and other parties in the commercial trucking industry are subject to state laws and federal regulations governing their hours of service, record keeping, and much more.

Trucking regulations and laws are complicated. In addition, in the event of a crash, federal agencies such as the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

All of these factors combine to make litigation in 18-wheeler claims significantly more complex than cases involving cars and other passenger vehicles.

Contact Our Truck Accidents Lawyers Today

Whether you have been injured in a collision involving a car, truck, or another kind of vehicle, the Karl Truman Law Office is here to help. You can count on our lawyers and staff to provide you with compassionate, personalized service and strive to attain the compensation you and your family deserve.

For assistance in or around Louisville, Kentucky, please call (502) 222-2222 today for a free consultation. For service in Jeffersonville and the nearby areas of Indiana, please call (812) 282-8500.