How Truck Accidents Are Different from Car Accidents

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, you know that they are far different than a car crash.

First of all, consider the huge differences between the two vehicles in size and weight. A tractor-trailer can be up to 53 feet long – 3 times the length of the largest SUV – and weigh up to 80,000 pounds.

A typical truck accident will cause substantial damage to the smaller vehicle. But there are other differences between these two types of accidents than just size.

Finding the Cause of a Truck Accident May Not Be Straightforward

Driver error is often the cause of a truck crash. Irresponsible driving practices including driving while distracted, fatigue, driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, and aggressive driving such as speeding cause many truck accidents.

However, the trucking company may also be fully or partially liable. Equipment failure may contribute to an accident, but may not free the driver from responsibility. Drivers must perform a pre-trip inspection to check that all equipment is working properly. But an equipment failure may involve the truck or parts manufacturer as well as the trucking company which may have been negligent in its maintenance.

Other entities may also be responsible for a truck accident. These include lease-holders and sublease-holders as well as those involved with the cargo and its settlement.

Truck Accident Injuries Can Be Severe

In part because of the size and weight differences between trucks and cars, truck accident victims tend to suffer very serious injuries including:

· Head and brain trauma. These injuries can be life-changing. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause extensive harm ranging from cognitive issues to personality changes to death.

· Painful burns that may cause permanent disfigurement.

· Arm, hand, leg or foot amputations.

· Back and neck injuries that can render a victim partially or fully paralyzed.

Unfortunately, many truck accidents also result in fatalities. If a victim has been killed by the negligence of others, a wrongful death claim may be brought on behalf of the victim’s family.

Let Us Know If You Have Been Injured in a Truck Accident

If you or a family member has been harmed by a car accident, truck accident, construction accident, slip and fall or any other type of personal injury, please contact StolzenbergCortelli, LLC Attorneys at Law immediately. Please call us for a free consultation. Attorneys Howard Stolzenberg and Terrence James Cortelli, personal injury attorneys in White Plains, Nyack and New York City, will fight to secure justice for you and your family. You can reach us at (914) 361 – 4888 or contact us via the website.