Car Accidents & Commercial Truck Accidents: What’s the Difference?

Being injured in a motor vehicle crash can put the brakes on not only your plans for the day, but the remainder of your life. Crashes with commercial trucks can be more devastating given the greater likelihood of serious injury or death associated with truck accidents, as we’ll discuss below. If you or a loved one has experienced a life-altering, long-term injury as a result of a crash, you could be entitled to compensation. A car accident lawyer from Goodwin Como, P.C. can help.

Trucks are More Dangerous, and Truck Drivers are Held to a Higher Standard

Trucks operate at a greater height than most traditional motor vehicles, and they are significantly heavier. Because of this, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that individuals in traditional passenger vehicles are more likely to experience a rear or side underride (a crash in which one vehicle slides under another vehicle) or a front override in crashes with large trucks. In fact, research has found that in approximately 75% of rear-end crashes involving rear underride (a crash in which one vehicle drives over the top of the other), the vehicle was a light vehicle such as a traditional passenger vehicle including cars, vans, motorcycles, and SUVs.

If you are in a traditional passenger car and collide with another passenger vehicle, the risk of underride or override is minimal. With a commercial truck, the potential for serious injury or death exists due to the ability of the truck to ride over your vehicle. Given the dangers of commercial trucks, truck drivers are held to a higher standard and must carry commercial drivers licenses and only drive when they are safe, well-rested, and sober.

Commercial Trucks are a Leading Cause of Motor Vehicle Injuries and Deaths

Each year the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration(FMCSA), publishes the Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts, which explores statistics concerning the true dangers associated with large trucks and other commercial vehicles on the road. In 2020, there were 4,998 large trucks and buses involved in fatal crashes. At the same time, the number of injury crashes involving large trucks and buses amounted to 108,000 injury crashes. The volume of crashes with large trucks is only a portion of commercial vehicle crashes, which also include delivery trucks, rideshare vehicles, and others.

Connect with a Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer from Goodwin Como, P.C.

If you’ve been in an accident with a commercial truck, you’ll need to file an insurance claim with their commercial insurance provider. You can expect that insurance provider to have attorneys and claim analysts to fight you every step of the way. Working with an attorney of your own helps to take the stress out of the process while ensuring that you collect the full amount to which you are entitled. Give our firm a call at (724) 438-1616, or visit our site to schedule a consultation.