At the scene of a truck and car accident, the passenger vehicle driver is significantly more likely to suffer from devastating and life-altering injuries. In most cases, the truck driver is at-fault for the collision for a variety of reasons. If you have recently been involved in a crash, you can rely on the knowledge of a truck accident attorney for legal advice. We can empathize with the financial stress and emotional turmoil after such a catastrophic accident. We can provide support through professional, yet strategic legal services during this difficult time. In the event you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact a skilled lawyer, like a truck accident lawyer Woodland Hills relies on, in order to assist to you with your case.
Size Difference
Any driver who has shared the road with a truck has felt the sheer force and intimidating size of a commercial vehicle. The maximum weight a truck can carry is 80,000 pounds. In comparison, the average weight of a standard sized car is 3-5,000 pounds. In the event of a collision, the truck carrying thousands of pounds of cargo can easily cause agonizing injuries, or even result in a fatality for those occupying the passenger vehicle.
Unsafe Driving Behaviors
Truck drivers may not always practice safe driving. Due to the pressures of meeting strict deadlines, a driver may be influenced to speed or work endless hours without sleep. Being sleepy while behind the wheel can be putting others on the road at risk. Here we have listed some of the main ways truck drivers may drive unsafely:
- Changing lanes too quickly in front of a passenger car
- Braking or swerving suddenly in an attempt to avoid a road imperfection
- Drivers of overloaded trucks forget about the additional weight, and are not able to stop in time to a car ahead
- Overloaded trucks stalling while driving uphill at a steep incline
- Not looking for cars before changing lanes
- Driving in hazardous weather conditions
- Drinking and/or drug use while operating the truck
Driving While Sleepy
Perhaps the most dangerous thing a truck driver can do is get behind the wheel while sleep-deprived. It is unnatural for our bodies to undergo relentless hours of driving, especially throughout the night. In an attempt to regain loss of rest, our bodies may go through brief periods of microsleep. These are short episodes of loss of attention that can last for a few seconds up to half a minute. This is plenty of time for a driver to become distracted, unaware of their surroundings and crash into another vehicle or verge completely off the roadway.
Seeking Medical Attention
It is important to get medical attention right after a truck accident. Maintain all records of your hospital visits and costs for treatment of injuries. It is rare for someone who was involved in a truck collision to walk away unscathed. Even if you appear to be okay, we recommend getting a doctor’s evaluation just in case. Your health is most important.
We can understand the financial and physical challenges you may be enduring. We are equipped to help you seek justice. We hope to hear from you today.
Thank you to Barry P. Goldberg, A Professional Law Corporation, for providing insight and authoring this piece on truck accidents.
