Truck Accidents
Truck crashes can happen under even the best conditions.
Truck accidents are not like other automobile accidents. Truck crashes are often followed by terrible damage to yourself, your property, and anyone with you at the time.
A fully loaded big rig can weigh up to 80,000 pounds (40 tons). The average car usually weighs around 3,000 to 4,000 pounds, while the typical motorcycle weighs between 500 and 700 pounds. When one of these trucks is involved, things become far more complicated. Accidents involving a large tractor-trailer or big rig and a smaller passenger car can result in severe injuries (or death) to the passengers in the smaller vehicle. The cases can be more complex and must be handled by experienced legal teams for the best chance of compensation and a favorable legal outcome.
Safely driving a large truck or 18-wheeler takes extraordinary skill and attention. Because the risk of damage is so high for large trucks, drivers are required to fulfill routine training and licensing. Many cases involving a large truck accident find that the driver was not following the laws and regulations assigned by their state or employer. Unfortunately, distracted driving is a common and completely preventable cause of catastrophic truck accidents. In the United States, distracted driving remains one of the leading causes of all motor vehicle accidents. (Consumer Notice)
Determining liability isn’t always as black-and-white as it may seem.
“Determining who’s at fault is one of the critical issues in a truck accident case. In order to be successful, you must be able to prove that the truck driver or other parties were negligent.
Trucking companies are often held liable for their employees’ negligence. If a truck driver is an independent contractor, on the other hand, he or she can be held personally responsible for causing a crash.
Sometimes, trucking companies will try to claim that a trucker they employ is an independent contractor to try to get out of being sued. But independent contractors must meet very specific conditions under employment and tax laws.”
Accident-prone trucks
When most people hear “trucking accident” or that someone was “hit by a truck” they visualize a semi-truck crashing into a sedan on the highway. While this does happen, there are many kinds of trucks and accidents that can fall into the ‘truck accident’ category. Here are some examples of common trucks that pose a serious risk for accidents:
- Trucks pulling flatbed and open-top trailers. Often, injuries and damages from these trucks occur when the material is not properly secured to the bed or contained within the open trailer. Trucks carrying rocks, debris, logs, or other loose materials can be dangerous if their cargo spills, rolls, or flies out of its trailer. Failure to secure cargo is a common cause of truck accidents.
- Public service trucks like street sweepers, snowplows, garbage, and recycling trucks. These trucks spend most of their time in residential areas. Waste management trucks, in particular, have low visibility and are prone to property damage or pedestrian injury.
- Specialty trucks and tanker trucks. Accidents involving high-risk cargo like flammable gasses or liquids can be extremely destructive, even if the accident itself was minor. Trucks carrying hazardous materials are at the largest risk in the event of a collision or crash.
Causes and fault in truck accidents
As stated above by consumer notice, determining who or what is to blame for an accident is a complex and challenging task.
It is vital that you partner with a legal team who will take the time to listen to your story and help evaluate your options. We want to ensure you receive the support and compensation you need to recover from your injuries.
Talk to us anytime to get important information about what to do next. We’re here for you. Our attorneys regularly deal with these tragedies and are ready to give you the help you need.
If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, speak to a qualified attorney in Iowa, Minnesota, or Wisconsin.
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