How Truck Accidents Are Different From Car Accidents
If you suffered serious injuries in an accident involving a big rig truck, it’s challenging to get the compensation you deserve. That’s why you’ll want to find a personal injury lawyer with a proven track record of success in these cases.
There may be more than one person who contributed to your injuries, including the trucker, the trucking company, other drivers involved in the accident, and manufacturers of defective parts. Your Columbus truck accident attorney will investigate the accident and file a claim or a lawsuit to help you get maximum compensation for your injuries.
Truck Accidents Cause Catastrophic Injuries
When you consider its size, weight, and stopping distance, it’s not surprising that a truck causes immense damage to anything that gets in its way. People traveling in cars, motorcycle riders, pedestrians, and bicycle riders suffer catastrophic injuries when struck by a semi-truck.
A big rig truck weighs up to 80,000 pounds. From the moment the driver decides to hit the brakes, a truck traveling at highway speeds requires about 600 feet to come to a complete stop. That’s the length of two consecutive football fields!
Truck drivers must remain alert and ready to respond to changing traffic conditions at all times. A moment of distraction or indecision increases the chances that a tragic accident will occur. Injuries caused by unsafe truckers include:
- Paralysis
- Severe burns
- Fractures
- Neck injuries
- Whiplash
- Lacerations
- Knee injuries
- Organ failure
- Amputation
- Nerve damage
- Broken hips
Accidents Caused by Trucks
Trucking companies should only hire experienced drivers who know what they’re doing. Unfortunately, a lot of trucking companies cut corners by hiring inexperienced drivers or drivers with a history of making poor decisions. Unscrupulous trucking companies reduce expenses by failing to provide regular inspections and repairs.
Accidents caused by unsafe drivers and inadequate truck maintenance include
- Jackknifes are when the semi-truck and trailer become sprawled out across the highway, blocking several lanes. These accidents are caused by improperly loaded trucks, tire blowouts, and bad braking techniques.
- Blind spot accidents. Trucks have large blind spots in front of the cab, behind the trailer, and on both sides. To prevent dangerous collisions, truckers must be taught how to change lanes properly by signaling in advance and making allowances for drivers in the truck’s blind spot.
- Runaway trailers. When a semi-truck trailer becomes uncoupled from the truck, it creates a terrifying hazard for unsuspecting drivers. These accidents are caused by an inexcusable lapse in truck maintenance.
- Undercarriage accidents happen when a car becomes lodged underneath a truck. Broken or missing undercarriage guards and dangerous driving practices such as sudden lane changes cause undercarriage accidents.
- Dangerous turns. When making a right turn, it’s essential for truck drivers to remain in their own lane and watch out for pedestrians inside the crosswalk. When making a left turn, truckers must make sure the coast is clear before proceeding to prevent crashes.
- Rollovers occur when a trucker suddenly swerves and flips over on its side. These accidents are caused by tire blowouts and faulty brakes.
The Role of Your Columbus Truck Accident Lawyer: Investigating the Accident
Trucking companies attempt to avoid responsibility for accidents caused by unsafe drivers and poor truck maintenance. They’ve been known to send a team of people to the accident scene to cover up evidence after a crash.
Your truck accident attorney will examine what the truck’s event data recorder (EDR) has collected. Often referred to as the truck’s “black box,” an EDR contains information about the events leading up to a crash. Your truck accident attorney will issue a data preservation letter to prevent the trucking company from destroying evidence or tampering with the EDR.
The experienced litigators at Butler Prather LLP will conduct a thorough investigation by collecting the following types of information:
- Dash cam and surveillance video
- EDR information
- Police reports
- Witnesses interviews
- Inspection reports
- Truck maintenance records
- Internal company documents
- Trucker hours of service (HOS) logs
We’ve Won Over $1 Billion for Our Clients
Butler Prather LLP will file a claim or lawsuit against the trucker, the trucking company, and anyone else whose negligence contributed to your injuries. For over 35 years, our Columbus personal injury attorneys have been helping accident victims get the money they need to take care of themselves and their families.
Butler Prather LLP has won settlements and verdicts for clients in over 30 states. We’ve won nine verdicts that exceed $100 million and more than 60 verdicts and settlements of over $10 million.
Call (706) 322-1990 to schedule a complimentary consultation today.