Why Truck Accidents Are More Severe Than Car Crashes

When you are driving on the roadway, anything can happen. A car accident can happen at any time.

While any vehicle collision can cause serious injuries, accidents involving commercial trucks, especially 18-wheelers, tend to result in catastrophic outcomes due to several critical factors. Here is a closer look at why commercial trucks cause more severe accidents than passenger vehicles.

Size and Weight Differences

The most obvious reason truck accidents are more severe is the sheer size and weight of commercial trucks. A fully loaded semi truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which is roughly 20 times heavier than a typical passenger vehicle. This extreme difference in mass means that in a collision, the truck exerts far more force on the smaller vehicle, often causing severe structural damage and serious injuries to car occupants. Even low-speed impacts can lead to life-threatening injuries due to this imbalance.

Longer Stopping Distances

Trucks require significantly more distance to stop than cars, especially when fully loaded. While a passenger car traveling 55 mph might stop in about 200 feet under ideal conditions, a semi truck can take 400 feet or more to come to a complete stop. This makes rear-end collisions, sudden braking situations, or road hazards far more dangerous when trucks are involved. Delayed reactions and longer stopping distances often lead to high-impact crashes that can be fatal.

Greater Force of Impact

Because of their weight and momentum, trucks generate an enormous force during collisions. Physics plays a major role, in that force equals mass times acceleration. When a truck collides with a smaller vehicle, the smaller vehicle absorbs most of the impact energy, often crushing it. The higher the speed, the more devastating the force, which is why high-speed truck accidents frequently result in fatalities.

Blind Spots and Limited Maneuverability

Commercial trucks have much larger blind spots than cars, especially on the sides, rear, and directly in front. Drivers may not see smaller vehicles, increasing the risk of side-swipe and lane-change collisions. Also, trucks cannot maneuver as quickly as passenger cars due to their size and weight. Sharp turns, sudden stops, or evasive maneuvers that a car could handle may be impossible for a truck, making crashes more likely.

Increased Risk of Catastrophic Injuries

Due to the combination of force and weight, truck accidents often lead to severe injuries that can be permanent or fatal. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, internal bleeding, and crush injuries. The human body is highly vulnerable to the extreme forces generated by truck accidents, so they often result in life-altering consequences.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

Truck accidents are often far more dangerous and damaging than standard car crashes. Because of this, it is important to seek legal help and ensure you get full and fair compensation for all your damages.

A Houston truck accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC can assist you with your case. Our experience in tractor-trailer accidents will be your best chance of receiving the financial recovery you need. Fill out the online form or call (281) 347-3247 to schedule a consultation.

Source:

trafficsafetystore.com/blog/do-cars-or-trucks-cause-more-accidents-what-do-the-statistics-say/?srsltid=AfmBOop6trIdQKVDJMyA6OrOmauFpfwJZ3azJ_wTksYmrdDferXqBVbH