Semi-truck collisions have the potential to cause devastating injuries and property damage expenses. The difference in size between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle is enough to make a collision particularly severe. The smaller vehicle and its occupants are incredibly vulnerable during commercial truck collisions. The people involved in these crashes often have staggering expenses and a long road to recovery ahead of them.
The better that motorists understand their safety risks in traffic, the easier it may be for them to protect themselves from the worst-case scenario. What do drivers need to know about the causes of semi-truck crashes and the consequences of these major wrecks?
Most 18-wheeler crashes are preventable
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implements rules to prevent collisions and also gathers data about semi-truck crashes. The data gathered by the FMCSA makes it clear that there are a handful of common causes that contribute to most 18-wheeler wrecks.
The top causes of semi-truck crashes include:
- making the wrong choices in traffic
- failing to monitor surroundings
- non-performance due to sleep or medical issues
- problems with the commercial vehicle
- issues with infrastructure/road conditions
Mistakes by commercial motorists are the top cause of crashes where semi-trucks are at fault.
Drivers get too close to other vehicles or operate at unsafe speeds. Surveillance issues are the second leading cause of crashes. Distraction and failing to account for large blind spots can cause preventable wrecks.
The aftermath of semi-truck crashes can be devastating
Passenger vehicles may not be safe to drive ever again after a crash with a commercial truck. The people inside are at risk of severe injuries.
They could sustain spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). They might develop crush injuries that require surgical intervention. The collision could cause a traumatic amputation. Semi-truck collisions can also prove fatal for the people in the smaller vehicles involved.
Attempting to secure appropriate compensation after a semi-truck crash can be difficult. Injured people and those grieving a tragedy may have a hard time being objective about the situation. They may struggle to prove fault or to calculate their losses accurately. They may have a hard time negotiating with insurance providers or even determining who is liable for the incident.
Securing appropriate compensation requires determining fault and liability, as well as the long-term financial impact of the crash. Many people dealing with the aftermath of a semi-truck collision require the support of a personal injury attorney. A lawyer can oversee insurance negotiations and can help identify potentially liable parties.
Having a plan in place can make it easier for people to respond appropriately after a semi-truck collision. People may need help recouping property damage expenses and a variety of economic losses related to injuries, and that’s okay.