An accident with an 18-wheeler truck is very different than other types of motor vehicle accidents. These large vehicles are many times bigger than automobiles and carry heavy loads. It is because of these reasons and others listed below that 18-wheeler truck accidents are different from car accidents, in both the legal consequences and in the physical injuries that a victim may sustain.
There are many federal regulations associated with tractor trailers. For instance, a truck driver has very specific regulations as to how long they can drive. The total number of hours they can drive is limited, and after they reach this limit, it becomes illegal for them to continue driving until at least 10 consecutive hours have passed. It also takes about 8 hours to sleep before you can safely go back on the road again, so many truck drivers will stop at truck stops to get their required rest periods in between driving stints.
When an 18-wheeler is in an accident, the driver’s truck can often come to a complete stop, while their trailer continues to travel on its own. In this situation, the trailer will frequently collide with other vehicles or objects in front of it before coming to a halt.
In 18-wheeler accidents with cars, the drivers and passengers are more likely to have catastrophic injuries because of the size of the truck. It is because of the weight of the truck and the possibility of the trailer jackknifing and flipping over that the severity of 18-wheeler accidents is higher than car accidents.
A typical 18-wheeler truck accident can cause injuries like broken bones, burns, trauma to the brain, spinal cord damage, permanent disabilities and even death. The seriousness of these accidents is largely due to the size of the tractor trailer; its weight combined with that of the cargo it carries typically leaves little room for error on behalf of those involved in an accident. These trucks also have limited visibility because they are so tall and wide, which means they may not be able to see others until it is too late.
If you’ve been in an accident with an 18-wheeler, we recommend that you contact an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. These types of cases are very complex, and you need an experienced attorney on your side. One of the main reasons is that many 18 wheelers are owned or operated by large companies and these companies act fast to protect their financial interest. At David Blackwell Law, we have years of experience handling 18-wheeler accident cases and we would be happy to offer you a free consultation and guidance regarding your case, even if you do not hire us.
