A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh over 80,000 pounds, whereas an average car weighs about 3,000 pounds. It becomes easy to see how a collision between the two can cause serious injuries to the car driver and their occupants, which is why commercial truck crashes often involve large damages, given the immense pain and suffering victims face. The costs associated with such injuries are also often extreme and may require lifelong care, which would be accounted for when determining compensation by a qualified legal expert.
Causes of Commercial Vehicle Car Crashes
Generally, most car accidents are the result of human error, such as inattention, or failure to observe the rules of the road. In trucking cases, however, even accidents that are the result of human error might implicate other parties, which means more than one person or entity could be responsible for your injuries. In addition to human error, many truck accidents are also caused by equipment failure and improper maintenance, for which multiple parties might be at fault.
Additionally, all commercial truck drivers must possess a valid commercial driver’s license that reflects their level of training and qualifies them to carry certain loads. Without the requisite training and qualifications, the trucking company could be held liable due to negligence in the area of hiring and training.
All accidents on the roadway are undoubtedly traumatic, especially when they involve severe injuries, but truck crashes are often particularly devastating simply due to the sheer size and weight of them. In fact, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, accidents involving large commercial trucks in 2019 resulted in 4,119 deaths with the vast majority not being the driver of the commercial driver. Many of these injuries are often catastrophic, inflicting lasting damage on survivors, permanently altering their lives and the lives of their family.
A total of 4,119 people died in large truck crashes in 2019. Sixteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 67 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 15 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists. The number of people who died in large truck crashes was 31 percent higher in 2019 than in 2009, when it was the lowest it has been since the collection of fatal crash data began in 1975. The number of truck occupants who died was 51 percent higher than in 2009.
(Source: https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/large-trucks)
Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys
Truck accidents are some of the most devastating occurrences on the roadways. If you or a loved one was injured in a commercial truck accident, now is the time to obtain the skilled representation you deserve. At Harsh Law, our Inland Empire truck accident attorneys will be your voice against the opposition and fight for fair and just compensation on your behalf. You should not have to face this difficult time on your own, nor should you end up having to pay for someone else’s mistakes.
Contact Mark Harshbarger and the Harsh Law legal team today at +1 (909) 793-6261 to schedule a free consultation with knowledgeable members of our Inland Empire team.