In a crash between two cars, small trucks, or SUVs, the difference between the vehicles might not be too big, causing only moderate damage in many cases. Even in slower crashes involving 18-wheeler trucks, the crash can cause so much more severe damage to the smaller car because of the massive size and weight of the truck.
If you were hit by a truck or a loved one was killed in a truck accident, our attorneys can help you and your family get compensation. These crashes result in serious injuries, requiring time off work and expensive medical care. On top of this, the damages for pain and suffering can be incredibly high. Full compensation often becomes available only when you work with a lawyer; without one, insurance companies will try to take advantage of you and deny your claim.
For a free case evaluation, call the truck accident lawyers at Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357.
Dangers and Injuries from Truck Accidents in Lebanon, TN
Truck accidents pose a serious risk to everyone on the road, including the truck driver. In many cases, these crashes are much worse than other car accidents because of a few unique dangers associated with trucks and truck safety.
Truck Size and Weight
In a crash, the kinetic energy from one vehicle is transferred to the other, causing damage and injuries. Momentum and kinetic energy are both heavily based on the weight of the vehicle, and trucks are absolutely huge. Anyone who has driven alongside a truck knows that trucks are big, but you might not realize that they can legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds.
For comparison, a Honda Accord – one of the most common sedans in America – usually weighs under 3,300 pounds. A Ford F-series pickup – one of the most common pickup trucks in America – weighs less than 6,000 pounds. This means that trucks are over 24 times as heavy as a sedan and even over 13 times heavier than a pickup truck. This massive difference often means more serious injuries to the other driver, not the trucker.
The size of a truck also means that if it crashes, it can potentially hit multiple cars. Trucks that crash across multiple lanes often cause multi-car pileups and widespread injury.
Driver Fatigue
Truck drivers spend hours on the road. Under federal regulations promulgated by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), truckers have limits on how long they can drive to help combat fatigue and laziness after hours on the road.
Under these “hours of service” regulations, truckers have to take a 30-minute break after 8 total hours of driving. They also have to stop driving for the day and take 10 hours off duty if they reach 11 total hours driving or 14 hours since they started driving. In total, drivers cannot drive more than 60 hours in a 7-day workweek or 70 hours in an 8-day workweek (depending on how their workweek is structured) without taking 34 hours off duty in between.
Even within these rules, driving can be incredibly tiring, and truckers on long shifts pose a danger to others on the road.
Dangerous Equipment
Other FMCSA and Tennessee regulations require trucks to have certain safety equipment, lighting, mirrors, tire tread depth, and other required equipment. Missing equipment, broken equipment, lack of maintenance, and failed inspections can all leave vehicles in a dangerous condition, potentially increasing the risk of a truck accident.
One of the most common trucking violations deals with improper lighting, which can make a truck hard to see at night. One of the most obvious dangers other drivers might recognize on the roadside is tire shedding, which can happen normally but occurs more often with improperly retreaded tires. One lesser-known safety issue stems from improper underride guards – guards that prevent cars from sliding under the rear or side of the trailer. If the underride guard, also known as a “Mansfield bar,” is broken or insufficient, the ineffective equipment could contribute to another driver’s injuries.
Overloaded and Improperly Loaded Trucks
Trucks that go over the 80,000-pound weight limit can be harder to control and potentially more deadly in an accident. Moreover, this 80,000-pound weight limit applies specifically to 18-wheeler trucks, with smaller trucks having lower weight limits depending on the number of wheels and axels.
Overloading a truck is one thing, but improperly loading a truck can be dangerous as well, even if the truck is underweight. If cargo is loaded in a way that allows it to shift, the trailer could sway or become unstable. Trailers can also sway if the cargo is loaded toward the back instead of the front. In any case, improper loading can cause trailer sway, potentially resulting in full-on fishtailing that can strike another vehicle or cause the truck to jackknife and fold on itself, causing a crash.
There are FMCSA and state regulations to help avoid both overweight trucks and improper loading.
Damages for Injured Drivers and Passengers in a Truck Accident in Lebanon, TN
If you were hurt in a crash involving an 18-wheeler or other large commercial truck, you should be entitled to claim damages for the medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering the accident caused you. These damages should be paid by the truck driver, their insurance company, the trucking company they work for, or some combination of those parties. If you are suing for a truck accident that killed a loved one, there may be other damages you can claim as well, such as funerary and burial costs.
Trucking accidents can also involve punitive damages in some cases. These damages are ordered to punish negligent trucking companies and drivers and are not meant to reimburse you.
Call Our Truck Accident Lawyers in Lebanon, TN Today
Call (844) 876-4357 for a free case assessment with the truck accident lawyers at Howe Law today.
