Why Truck Accidents Are Different From Car Accidents
Truck accidents, as well as their ensuing injury claims, are way different from ordinary car accidents. Knowing what these differences are will help you greatly in pursuit of your injury compensation. Here are some of the major areas where truck accidents and car accidents differ:
Liability Issues Tends To Be Complex
The number of people who may be held liable for a truck accident is higher than the number of people who may be held liable for a typical car accident. Liability issues tend to get complicated if a large number of people are potentially liable for an accident. This is because the different parties may start shifting the blame from one to another leaving you stranded in the middle.
For example, if the truck that caused the accident had a trailer, it's possible that the trailer and the tractor may be owned by different parties. In such a case, you must determine whether it is the trailer that caused the accident or the tractor and then sue the relevant party. There are also cases where the driver doesn't work for the trucking company and the trucking company doesn't own the truck (for example, if it leases it). In short, sorting the liability issues can be very difficult.
The Ensuing Injuries Tend To Be More Serious
Truck accidents also tend to leave more serious injuries in their wake than typical car accidents and there are several reasons for this. For one, the weight of a typical truck is much higher than the weight of a typical car, and weight is a factor in the momentum of a crash, which determines the extent of the injuries. Secondly, the shapes and surface areas of trucks mean that the surface area involved in the crash will be high than if a small car caused the accident.
The Drivers Are Held To a Higher Standard of Driving Rules
Lastly, you should also know that truck drivers have different rules and are held to higher standards than other drivers. Trucking companies have special licenses that they must get and maintain and special rules that they must obey. For example, there are strict work hours that truck drivers must adhere to; proving that the driver exceeded their working hours may strengthen your case. You don't have to prove anything of the sort if you are pursuing an injury against an ordinary driver.
If you have been injured by a truck, you need the expertise of a truck accident lawyer who understands the above issues. That will go a long way in helping you secure the compensation you deserve.