An accident is a driver’s absolute nightmare. In 2018 alone, more than 22,000 Americans were killed in an accident. That’s two deaths for every hour of that year.
The numbers are very revealing, especially when you compare car vs truck accidents. When a passenger car and a light truck hit each other head-on, the occupant in the car was killed three times more often than in the truck. A car accident is different than a truck accident, and you need to know the differences.
Learn the differences today. Here is a quick guide.
Trucks Are Bigger Than Cars
There is a good reason why trucks kill people more often. Trucks are far bigger than most cars.
Trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average car weighs 5,000. Trucks are 70 to 80 feet long and 20 feet wide. They need 40% more time to stop than cars do, and they require 55 feet to do a U-turn.
There is no such thing as a fender-bender in a truck accident. If a truck hits a car, the car will receive extensive damage.
Trucks Carry Cargo
The truck is a threat in and of itself. But most trucks carry cargo.
When a truck gets into an accident, the cargo can spill. Non-hazardous cargo is very bulky. If it falls onto a car, it can damage the car and hurt the occupant.
Hazardous cargo poses a great threat to human health. Chemicals can poison water and land. Occupants can breathe in fumes, causing lung and heart damage.
Gasoline and suspension fluid in cars can also cause injury if breathed in. Yet trucks carry far more gasoline and fluid. The risk from a truck accident is far greater than a car accident just from the cargo alone.
Truck Drivers Follow Many Regulations
Many regulations bind truck drivers. Truck drivers can drive for up to 11 hours before they have to take a break. They must take a 30-minute break after driving for eight hours without interruption.
Car drivers do not follow these regulations. If a car driver causes an accident, the penalties are less severe. If a truck driver violates regulations and then causes an accident, the penalties are far greater.
Truck Drivers Carry More Insurance
Truck drivers have several different insurance policies. They must insure their truck, and rates are based on their history and vehicle. They must also insure their cargo, which pays when the cargo is damaged.
These policies combined are worth millions of dollars. Truck insurance companies, therefore, fight claims more often than car insurance companies.
Many truck insurers deflect responsibility in court. They manage to convince juries that the car driver was at fault.
You should hire an attorney after an accident. But you must hire an attorney following a truck accident. Compare the services of different law firms together, and view here for a description of what a lawyer can do for you.
Understand More About Car vs Truck Accidents
An accident can occur anytime, anywhere. Plan ahead and understand the differences between car vs truck accidents.
Trucks are far bigger than cars and carry heavy cargo, so they can cause more damage. Federal regulations bind truck drivers, which makes them liable in court. Truck drivers carry more insurance, so insurers fight for them more often.
Get a lawyer before pursuing any legal action. Read our website for more information so you can plan ahead.
