How Do Truck Accidents Differ from Car Crashes?
Due to the fact that car crashes and truck accidents both involve motor vehicles and happen on Florida’s roads and highways, it is easy to assume that the aftermath of each are very similar. Unfortunately, this is not true. The aftermath of a truck accident is far more complicated than after a car crash. Below, our Tampa truck accident attorney explains in greater detail.
The Injuries are More Severe
Transport trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when they are fully loaded. Compare that with the average passenger vehicle that weighs just 4,000 pounds, on average, and it is easy to see why occupants of smaller vehicles suffer such serious injuries after a truck accident. In some cases, the injuries are so severe that accident victims cannot survive them. According to the National Safety Council, Florida ranks third in the country for fatal truck accidents.
Even when an accident victim survives the accident, the serious injuries they sustain will impact them for months and years to come. They may even be life-changing. Some of the most common injuries suffered in truck accidents are broken bones, traumatic head injuries, paralysis, amputations, and more.
Higher Insurance Policies
The fact that injuries are so severe means that the damages incurred are much higher. Accident victims can only claim up to the liable party’s policy limits when filing a claim. Although this can be limiting in car accidents, it actually brings some benefits to injured individuals after a truck accident. With higher policy limits, victims can claim more in compensation.
While higher policy limits bring some benefits to accident victims, liable parties and the insurance companies that represent them are much more likely to fight back against these claims. This can make filing a claim after a truck accident much more challenging.
Multiple Liable Parties
After a car accident, usually one of the drivers at the scene is at fault. This is not always the case in truck accidents. Multiple parties can be liable for a truck accident, including:
- Truck drivers
- Trucking companies
- Truck owners
- Freight companies
- Freight-loading companies
- Truck maintenance companies
- Truck manufacturers
- Government entities responsible for designing and maintaining roads
Evidence Involved
All auto accident claims will require evidence to prove your case. However, the evidence required in truck accident cases is much more extensive and can be harder to obtain. Important evidence in these cases includes maintenance reports, cargo manifests, hiring records, black box data, schedules, and more. It is important to work with a Tampa truck accident attorney who can file the necessary subpoenas to obtain this important evidence.
Call Our Truck Accident Attorney in Tampa Today
The aftermath of a truck accident is incredibly complex. There is too much at stake for you to go it alone. At Moore Law, our Tampa truck accident attorney can help you through the process, obtain the necessary evidence to prove your case, and help ensure you receive the full and fair settlement you are entitled to. Call us today at 813-510-5400 or chat with us online to request a consultation with our experienced attorney and to get the legal advice you need.
Source:
injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/road-users/large-trucks/data-details/
