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- Truck Accident
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Car Accident
HABLAMOS ESPAÑOL
(877) 880-4090Have you ever wondered just how big semi-trucks are? Fully loaded, they weigh around 80,000 pounds. They’re typically 8.5 feet wide, 13.5 feet tall, and about 72 feet long. To put those measurements into perspective, the average passenger car is 6 feet wide, 15 feet long, and weighs 4,200 pounds.
Those are more than simply interesting facts. Those figures show that trucks are significantly heavier and larger than cars, so they can cause much more severe damage and injuries if they cause a crash. Injured accident victims likely experience significant financial strain after a truck accident, but Fielding Law is here to assist.
You may know that truck drivers must take special training courses to obtain a commercial driver’s license. Tractor-trailers are more challenging to drive, and truckers face many issues that passenger auto drivers don’t. Any of these can cause a collision.
Shippers use semi-trucks to transport goods. The cargo is typically very heavy and bulky. Those loading the cargo onto or into a truck’s trailer must place it properly to distribute the weight evenly and secure it against movement. Why? Because if a trailer’s balance is uneven, the driver may have trouble maneuvering or even lose control of the truck. That balance can be thrown off by weight distribution or loose cargo problems.
Every driver knows about blind spots. A truck’s blind spot is so large that it has a name: no man’s land. Truckers cannot see cars in this area, so they can unknowingly change lanes directly in a car’s path.
You may have noticed a truck making a long, wide turn. Tractor-trailers are composed of two parts: the cab and the trailer. As we already mentioned, trucks are extremely heavy and long. These and other factors cause problems with maneuvering the truck.
Heavier objects take longer to stop. Say that a fully loaded tractor-trailer and a passenger car are traveling at 65 mph in ideal conditions, and each driver begins to brake at the same time. The car can come to a complete stop in approximately 316 feet, which is about the length of a football field. It takes the truck 525 feet to stop.
A truck’s weight is part of the reason for the increased stopping distance. Another factor is the air brake system that most trucks use. Unlike the hydraulic brakes that passenger cars typically have, air brakes have lag time.
Truckers can cause collisions due to driver error. However, other parties may be at least partially responsible for the truck:
The potential for multiple responsible parties makes determining fault a challenging process. When your hire Fielding Law, we will conduct a full and in-depth investigation to ensure that the responsible party pays for your damages.
You’re assuming a big responsibility when you get behind the wheel of any vehicle. Truckers have an even larger responsibility because of the inherent risk of a truck causing catastrophic injuries and property damage. Many actions or inactions are classified as driver error and negligence also:
You’ve probably heard of distracted driving, but do you know what it means? Anything you do, physically or mentally, that takes your focus away from driving safely is a distraction. This can include:
Most people are guilty of some form of distracted driving. Unfortunately, many otherwise avoidable collisions occur because of an innocent distraction.
Absolutely, they can. Many drivers assume that the vehicles surrounding them in traffic have similar capabilities: speed, acceleration and deceleration rates, maneuverability, visibility, and stopping distance. While that assumption is somewhat valid for passenger vehicles, they don’t apply to big trucks.
Drivers may dart in front of a truck thinking the truck will have time to slow or stop, not considering that it may not be possible.
If your injuries allow, you should:
If you sustained injuries in a truck accident, they’re probably severe and can adversely impact your life for months or even permanently. Several tasks need to be completed quickly, but your focus needs to be on your health and recovery. What can you do?
Hire a truck injury attorney from Fielding Law. Your accident lawyer and legal team will:
Unfortunately, insurance companies often try to take advantage of injured accident victims who don’t have legal representation. Fielding Law won’t let that happen to any of our clients.
Each state in the U.S. has its own laws that dictate who can get compensation in insurance claims and civil lawsuits relating to truck accidents. In no-fault states, every driver is required to obtain personal injury protection insurance. This policy should pay for certain expenses regardless of who causes an accident, but exceptions may apply.
Generally speaking, there are three categories of damages that injured truck accident victims may qualify to receive. Ask your attorney which types you’re eligible for and how much your case is worth.
Only a few accidents qualify for punitive or exemplary damages. The party responsible for causing the accident must have been intentionally negligent, malicious, reckless, or guilty of other outrageous behavior.
Truck accidents are usually very complicated and difficult to handle alone. You’ll want to hire an attorney with the knowledge, resources, and experience to win the compensation that you deserve. Fielding Law has that. We have won more than $60 million for our clients, and we’d like to tell you how we can help you too.
Fielding Law understands that your finances are strained, so we don’t charge any upfront costs or fees unless we win compensation for you. You’ll always have direct access to your attorney because our clients are our #1 focus. We’ll start by giving you a free case evaluation. Contact Fielding Law today via live chat, submitting our online contact form, or calling (877) 880-4090. Someone is available 24/7, so don’t wait.