Three Reasons Why Truck Accidents are Catastrophic

Traffic accidents that involve trucks often have more substantial destruction than accidents that involved passenger vehicles. There are three critical factors that can explain this. When victims in smaller passenger vehicles sustain physical bodily harm from a negligent truck driver, it may be possible to secure compensation by filing a personal injury claim. 

In Florida, the Tampa automobile accident attorneys at Fulgencio Law can help victims with their claims. Due to the complicated nature of the claims process when it involves a commercial truck, it is important to work with a legal team that understands how to manage truck accident injury claims. Determining liability can be challenging as there may be more than one party responsible. For example, the truck driver, the trucking company, or even the company that loaded the truck may all share some amount of liability for a crash happening.

Why Are Truck Accidents Catastrophic?

Annually across the United States, there are more than 30,000 crashes where a large commercial truck is involved. The majority of these incidents leave those in smaller passenger vehicles with the brunt of the injuries and deaths that result. The top three reasons why truck accidents tend to be so catastrophic include:

Size

Commercial trucks can be as heavy as 80,000 pounds and be over 70 feet in length. When you compare this to your average passenger vehicle, it is clear how imposing commercial tractor-trailers are to other cars on the road. A passenger sedan, for example, may weigh 4-5,000 pounds and be about 15 feet in length. A truck colliding with a much smaller vehicle can completely destroy it and pose great harm to those who are inside.

Complexity of Operations

It takes specialized training to operate a commercial truck. Driving a commercial truck means, a truck driver must understand how to effectively and safely maneuver turns, lane changes, and other moves with enough space to not impact other drivers. Any misjudgment on the part of the truck driver and a cataclysmic accident can follow. Also, because trailers can be bulky and fully loaded, a driver must be able to keep their rig balanced to avoid overturning and crushing smaller vehicles around them.

Momentum

When a truck is in motion and must slow down or make a stop, the amount of time it takes for this to happen is much more than with a smaller, lighter vehicle. If another smaller driver cuts off a truck without giving the driver enough room or if traffic suddenly stops ahead of a truck, for instance, there is the potential that a truck could slam into other cars if it is not given the room necessary to reduce its speed. This can also cause the driver to lose control of their rig, which could, in turn, cause the trailer to become unstable and roll over.

If you suffered injuries in a trucking accident in Florida or if you lost a loved one in a deadly truck crash, the Tampa wrongful death attorneys at Fulgencio Law can meet with you to discuss your case and advise you on your best options for compensation.

Speak with a Tampa Personal Injury Attorney Today

Any accident can be scary and result in devastating damages. Commercial truck accidents, in particular, have a higher risk of causing great physical bodily harm and death. After a Florida truck accident, call the Tampa personal injury attorneys at Fulgencio Law to schedule a free consultation at (813) 463-0123.