Back to Newsroom
Back to Newsroom

Philadelphia Truck Accident Attorney - How Trucking Accidents Are Different from Car Accidents

Thursday, 05 October 2017 03:25 PM

Rand Spear

Topic:

Philadelphia Truck Accident Attorney Discusses How Accidents Involving Semi-Trucks, Tractor-Trailers, or Other Commercial Vehicles Are Different from Car Accidents

PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / October 5, 2017 / Philadelphia truck accident attorney Rand Spear, wants drivers to understand that, though tractor-trailers and other commercial trucks, like semi-trucks and 18-wheelers, are responsible for a small percentage of motor vehicle accidents, the size of the trucks make serious or fatal injuries and significant property damage much more possible.

What Types of Accidents Are Unique to Commercial Trucks?

Some of the most common types of big-rig accidents that do not typically happen with regular passenger vehicles are:

  • Jackknifing - If a truck jackknifes, the driver doesn't usually have time to react before it is too late. The likelihood of a truck jackknifing is significantly increased if the front brakes are removed or disabled. Whomever is responsible for disabling the front brakes can be held liable for accidents caused by jackknifing.
  • Fuel fires - When a truck catches fire, it's usually because the truck's diesel fuel came into contact with a spark from the battery. If the battery is located in a place where it shouldn't be, or where it is vulnerable, the party who placed it there can be held liable for damages caused by the fuel fire.
  • Rollovers - Large trucks rolling over are the major cause of injuries and deaths in trucking accidents. There are a wide range of reasons for rollover accidents including driver error, driver fatigue, driving too fast, DUI, truck malfunction, and certain highway conditions.
  • Braking - Accidents caused by trucks are often caused by brake malfunction. There are a variety of reasons and responsibility for brakes that do not work at all, or correctly.

What Are Other Differences Between Trucking and Car Accidents?

One of the biggest differences between trucking accidents and car accidents is the injuries in trucking accidents tend to be significantly more extensive. A typical car weighs about 3,000 pounds, while a semi-truck can weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds. Consequently, drivers and passengers of cars that are involved in an accident with a commercial truck are nearly always serious.

Another key difference is that truck drivers are typically operated by people who have specialized training or formalized instruction. Truck drivers usually have a special license to drive commercial truck and have been to some type of truck driving school. That means that when a truck driver is responsible for an accident because they didn't receive sufficient training, the trucking company that they work for may also be found negligent for lack of training. You will not find that happening with inexperienced car drivers.

Contact a Philadelphia Trucking Accident Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries caused by a trucking accident, contact Philadelphia and New Jersey truck accident attorney Rand Spear today at 877-GET-RAND.

Follow Attorney Rand Spear on Facebook for more information.

SOURCE: Rand Spear

Topic:
Back to newsroom
Back to Newsroom
Share by: