The Severity of Trucking Accidents vs. Car Accidents
Common Types & Causes of Truck Accidents in Arizona
If you get into an accident with another car, it could prove deadly. Depending on the type of accident, your car could get totaled, and you and your passengers could suffer serious injuries. It’s a risk you take every time you get on the road. However, many more accidents prove to be minor. Someone rear ends you because they come in a little too fast at the red light. Someone tags your bumper after they roll through a stop sign because they were trying to text while driving. The examples go on and on.
But any personal injury lawyer in Mesa will tell you that getting into an accident with a truck is a much different matter. Consider that the average car weighs about 4,000 pounds, while a fully loaded semi-truck and trailer can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. If a truck hits your car, that’s going to be a huge impact. The truck would have to be going less than 5 miles per hour to just “tap” your car. Even then, it would likely cause a lot of damage to your car and possibly even minor injuries.
If you are in an accident with a truck, and the accident was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. You should always consult with a Mesa personal injury attorney to learn about your rights and your legal options.
Types of Trucking Accidents
The size, weight, and design of commercial trucks lends to the type of accidents they have – and their severity. Here are some of the common types of trucking accidents that Mesa personal injury attorneys encounter:
- Jackknifed trailer. The driver may try to turn quickly or swerve to avoid something, and the truck ends up at a 90-degree angle to the trailer. This could cause the truck and trailer to detach, and the trailer could keep sliding for hundreds of yards, depending on the speed. If the trailer stays connected, the position could also make it hard for the driver to get control of the truck.
- Tripped truck. Tall and heavy trucks are prone to tipping over on curves or during turns. If you are near, the truck or trailer could fall over on your vehicle. Or if the truck is on a high hill or elevated section of road, the truck or trailer could fall on top of your vehicle.
- Spilled load. If a load is not properly secured, or if a truck is overloaded, the load may spill out of the trailer, or it may spill over inside the trailer. Cargo can fall out onto your vehicle or may hit your vehicle while you are driving. Or the driver may simply lose control and crash into your vehicle.
- Side swipes and blind spot crashes. It is difficult for truck drivers to see all the around their truck and trailer. As a result, it is common for them to side swipe vehicles or to run into vehicles in their blind spots. Make sure you give truck drivers a lot of space, and position your vehicle so that you can always see their mirrors.
Knowing what can cause trucking accidents can help you be more vigilant and take defensive maneuvers on the road. Always stay aware of your surroundings, and give yourself plenty of room around trucks and plenty of time to stop.
Types of Injuries
Because of the severity of trucking accidents, they can cause serious and even fatal injuries. Some of the common injuries we see in truck accidents include:
- Brain injuries. Truck accidents often result in a serious blow to the head, which can result in brain injuries that stay with you your whole life. The most serious of these injuries can lead to impaired mobility and cognitive function permanently.
- Broken bones. Broken arms, legs, ribs, and more are common in truck accidents.
- Burns. Some burns can come from friction, and some can come from actual fire.
- Whiplash. The force of the crash can cause your neck to whip forward, leading to injury.
- Spinal cord injuries. The more serious of these can lead to total or partial paralysis.
Of course, scrapes, bruises, and cuts are all also possible in truck accidents, just as with car accidents. Just with the sheer size and weight of these trucks, they cause greater impacts and that causes more serious injuries in most cases.
What Causes Accidents?
In a personal injury lawsuit, the outcome comes down to who was at fault, so it is important to understand what can cause these accidents and how to show fault. Common causes of truck accidents include:
- Adverse weather
- Poor road conditions
- Speeding
- Poor visibility, including blind spots
- Truck malfunction
- Driver fatigue
When you hire a personal injury attorney in Mesa, the first thing your attorney will do will be to determine the cause of the accident. The police report will be used as a starting point, but your attorney may also want to collect additional evidence and testimony to determine the true fault.
Truck drivers often work for large companies, and their insurance companies and lawyers are going to do everything they can not to have to pay you after the accident. You need a personal injury attorney on your side to fight for your interests and to help you get the maximum compensation for all that you have suffered. Mesa Injury Lawyers are ready to help you. Our personal injury attorneys have extensive experience representing clients injured in truck accidents, and they are committed to helping you get the maximum compensation possible after your accident. Call our firm in Mesa today to schedule a consultation with one of our truck accident attorneys and learn more.
1731 West Baseline Road Suite #103
Mesa, AZ 85202
Tel: 602-600-6001
Enail: [email protected]
Website: injurylawyersmesa.com
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