When someone gets in a car accident, it could run the gamut from mild to severe in terms of injuries. Many car accidents even result in death. When compared to truck accidents, the trucking accidents are often portrayed as a lot worse than car accidents. How can that be when car accidents cause injuries and death as well? There are some key differences that will help you understand.
The Size of the Vehicle
A generic sedan is about 15 or 16 feet long. A typical semi-truck is about 72 feet long. That’s almost five times the size of a car. When a truck gets in an accident, it’s going to wipe out a whole lot more than a car. If it rolls, there will be a lot more property damage. If it fishtails, it could hit four cars instead of just one. If it catches on fire, it has a higher risk of spreading to nearby cars or structures.
The Weight of the Vehicle
When a semi-truck is full, it could weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Empty, it could weigh from 16,000 to 20,000 pounds. Your 4-door sedan only weighs about 5,000 pounds. If a semi-truck and a car were to hit head on, the car wouldn’t stand a chance, as the weight of the truck would push it to demolish the car. Because of the weight of a big truck, it’s going to hit harder, injure more and crash stronger.
The Stopping Distance of the Vehicle
The typical car can stop in about 100 yards when going 65 miles per hour. The typical semi-truck takes twice that distance to stop, even more depending on the weather and the speed he or she is driving. Cutting off a semi-truck is like asking to get injured or killed, whereas cutting off a car could result in a fender bender, or nothing at all.
The Load in the Vehicle
Most sedans or mini vans are carrying people, not dangerous cargo. When a car gets into an accident, there is the possibility an explosion will take place, but it’s more the exception than the rule. On the other hand, there are a lot of semi-trucks on the road that carry dangerous cargo. Flammable substances are among some of the most common, so when a semi carrying such a substance is in an accident, it can get pretty dangerous.
Contacting Your Lawyer
If you were involved in a truck accident, whether as the truck driver or another party, you deserve legal representation. Contact a lawyer, like a truck accident lawyer in Indianapolis, IN from Ward & Ward Law Firm, today.
