Car and truck collisions vary in many important ways. From the severity of the incident to height and weight considerations, the collisions that result from these two vehicles directly impacts the severity of injuries sustained and thus any compensation awarded.
While any collision can lead to serious injuries for all parties, the damage sustained in a truck accident is usually far worse. There are other differences as well. When you have been in a collision with another passenger vehicle, it’s common to simply file a claim against the other driver. But if you have suffered injury after a collision with a truck, more than one party may be declared negligent. This means you can potentially file a claim against not only the driver but the trucking company and manufacturer as well.
However, going up against these companies and manufacturers is no easy task for the average person. It’s a complex process that can be very frustrating and stressful. Typically, trucking companies have vast legal resources and teams of attorneys at their fingertips who are trained to do all they can to deny or limit your claim. This puts the average claimant at a big disadvantage. Hiring a car accident lawyer in Southwest Virginia can help improve your odds of a successful outcome.
It also helps to know the differences that separate truck collisions from passenger car collisions.
What are the Major Differences Between Truck and Car Collisions?
There are many, and it’s important to be aware of them all. Your Southwest Virginia truck accident attorneys can also go over these in more detail.
1. Extent of Damage
The sheer size of commercial trucks such as tractor trailers means they can cause significantly higher levels of damage in a collision than their passenger vehicle counterparts. Those involved in a truck accident are also more likely to die as the result of the collision, or at least sustain severe injuries such as TBI and spinal cord injuries.
2. Causes of Collisions
Most passenger vehicle collisions are caused by everyday distractions behind the wheel such as texting or speeding. But many more factors come into play when a truck is involved in a collision, such as defective parts, failure to secure cargo, etc. Some things don’t have anything to do with the driver at all, such as poor road conditions or the inability to come to a quick stop or swerve out of the way of an obstacle. In-depth investigations into cause and liability must be conducted before liability can be determined.
3. Liability
Determining who was at fault isn’t as cut and dried with truck collisions as it is for those involving cars. On top of that, liability can be spread out over several parties, such as the manufacturer, maintenance crews, parent company or the driver. Sometimes even multiple insurance companies can be involved!
4. Science
Trucks are entirely different animals than cars. There’s also some different science involved here too. These are large and heavy commercial trucks, and they operate very differently from cars. Their size and weight contribute to different maneuverings. For instance, it takes truck drivers a lot more time to come to a dead stop. In the same vein, it takes them longer to speed up, change lanes, and maneuver tight spaces.
They must utilize different angles when they back up, not to mention their blind spots are different. Equipment failure has more significant impacts in a collision involving a semi. And while the truck driver won’t completely be off the hook for resulting injuries when equipment failure is involved, these factors can lessen his or her liability. This, in turn, can decrease your compensation.
That’s why it’s so important for you to know the key differences between car and truck collisions. Thankfully, you don’t have to know every single difference inside and out – that’s what your VA truck and car collision lawyer is here for.
Contact Altizer Law
When you need a trusted truck collision attorney in Southwest Virginia, you can count on Bettina C. Altizer and her entire team here at Altizer Law. If you have been injured in either a car or truck collision, don’t hesitate to contact us at 540-345-2000 for a free, no-obligation consultation.
