What Makes a Truck So Dangerous?
Along with the obvious size and weight advantage, trucks find other ways to put those around them in danger. Passenger cars and trucks, cyclists and pedestrians all have to contend with certain built-in risks when they are around them.- Blind Spots: A truck has large and numerous blind spots because if it’s sheer size, and even with all those mirrors, the driver can’t see every car around the truck.
- Difficulty Stopping: It takes a truck almost twice the distance to stop than a typical passenger vehicle. This makes it all the more dangerous to others on the road.
- Right, Hook: When a truck turns right, it has to swing out to the left to make room for the back tires. Many times a car or a cyclist will enter the open space thinking the truck is going to turn the other direction and get crushed.
- Lane Changes: Trucks need a lot of room to change lanes, and they have large blind spots. Car drivers need to drive defensively when traveling near a truck on the freeways.
- Driver Mistakes: While statistically, truck drivers are safer drivers, they still make mistakes. Drowsy driving, impaired driving, aggressive driving, unbalanced/unsecured load, and distractions are just some of the mistakes a truck driver can make that puts others on the road in jeopardy.
What Do You Do When You Get into an Accident with a Big Rig?
In many ways, it’s no different than any other accident. You need to first focus on your immediate medical needs. If you can, get as information at the scene as possible. Get pictures of the accident and the truck that hit you. Get information about any witnesses that saw the accident as this can help prove what happened. When it comes to commercial trucks, getting information about the driver is vital. The following information will help when you talk to an attorney.- The name of the driver
- The name of the trucking company
- Whether the driver was an independent contractor
- The license plate number of the truck and the trailer (almost always different)
Commercial Trucks and Liability
No one wants to get into an accident, especially with a big rig, however, if that happens, some of the financial burdens that might come from being injured by the average driver are potentially lessened. This is because the insurance required for a California drive is only $15,000 for bodily injury and $30,000 for each accident making it one of the lowest coverage requirements in the U.S. By federal and state laws, commercial trucks have to carry much more. Smaller trucks with lighter loads are required to have around $300,000 in coverage, while larger trucks with hazardous loads can be required to carry up to $5 million. Most truck policies are in the $750,000 to $1 million range of coverage.Types of Truck Accident Injuries
Trucks are much heavier than passenger vehicles, so the smaller vehicle usually takes the brunt of the impact. This can cause serious injuries to those involved. Some of the most common types of injuries in a truck accident are:- Blunt Force Trauma
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Broken/Displaced Ribs
- Compound Fractures
- Chest Compressions
- Organ Damage
- Nerve Damage
- Internal Injuries
- Deep Lacerations/Bleeding
- Airbag injuries
