The difference in size between the average passenger car and a truck means the average accident always favors the truck driver, with injuries typically sustained by operator or passengers of the car. If there is a collision, chances are good there will be serious injuries to motorists.
Because of that, big rig drivers have a huge responsibility. Even if a truck operator is not at fault, people using the road can die. And many accidents can be prevented by big rig drivers taking precautions and planning ahead.
Motor vehicle accidents cannot always be avoided. Crashes usually start with a poor choice made by one of the parties involved. But others, no matter who started the accident, are contributed to by the size and the truck’s inertia.
Thousands of motorists are killed by trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds, including 18-wheelers, semis and tractor-trailers. And although federal law requires commercial vehicles traveling in interstate commerce to carry insurance for bodily injury and property damage, it’s critical that truck drivers be responsible.
If a truck driver operates his rig while fatigued or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the accident – which may not have been his fault to begin with – takes on more tragic consequences. In addition, in a rush to get the load to its destination, truck drivers may be drive recklessly, ignoring signs and signals or speeding, which contributes to the injury rate of the general public.
In addition, the truck operator has the added issues of truck maintenance to contend with. A badly maintained truck can mean a road hazard. Or a truck can be overloaded, loaded improperly, or simply had weight shift during travel, all of which hamper the ability of a driver to handle the rig and the load. But no matter how it happens, other motorists suffer the severe consequences of an accident.
Vehicle codes and special licensing and training requirements for truck drivers help, but accidents still happen. Worse, the profit motive often leaves regular road travelers seeking legal assistance when they’re severely injured through no fault of their own.
In the event of an accident between a commercial vehicle and a road car, cases can be settled before even filing a lawsuit; most can be settled without a trial. But should a settlement not be determined, a suit can be filed against the truck driver, the trucking company, the owner of the trailer, the shipper, and even the manufacturer of the truck involved. Damages can include money for a victim's past and future physical or mental pain, suffering, disfigurement, medical expenses, loss of earnings, loss of household services, loss of enjoyment of life and funeral and burial expenses.
