The amount of confusion immediately following a truck crash can be huge. You’ll want to make sure the police and any necessary emergency workers are called immediately to assist with any injuries or burns. The police will take extensive notes, statements from all the involved parties and any witnesses, and take photos as part of their accident report. If possible, you will also want to document as much as you can, including witness statements. If your phone’s camera is working, be sure to take as many pictures as possible of the damage to your vehicle and any injuries you and any other passengers sustained. Taking these actions can help ensure that anything the police missed is still documented.

Driver Error – Despite the increased size and impact of trucks, truck drivers often drive recklessly. They can drive drowsy to reach mileage goals set by their companies and may be operating their truck while under the influence or while distracted.

Poorly Maintained Trucks – Trucks are often driven thousands of miles per week and if they are not properly cared for, they can become dangerous quickly. Worn brake pads or a cracked windshield can be the cause of a major traffic accident on a truck.

Equipment Failure – Defective parts on a truck may not be the fault of the driver, but they can turn deadly. Your attorney will be able to tell if a trucking company or manufacturer may be liable for your accident in addition to the truck driver.
Improperly Loaded Cargo – Loading the beds of commercial trucks must be done carefully and in accordance with the law. If they are loaded improperly, the contents on the truck may spill out onto the road and cause accidents and injuries.

Commercial freight trucks (or ‘big rigs’) tend to weigh 80,000 pounds or more, twenty times the weight of passenger cars. Despite regulations that exist to ensure truck drivers do not drive more than ten hours per day, they are often given financial incentives for traveling large distances faster, which can directly impinge upon other drivers’ safety.

Increased Property Damage – As noted above, the weight and overall size of an 18-wheeler commercial freight truck are much larger than that of a typical vehicle. That means that any surrounding property is going to be affected much more than in a crash involving two cars.

More Serious Injuries – Similarly, the injuries that are common in car accidents are also far more severe and can include intensive medical care and bills. From serious whiplash and broken bones to brain trauma and severe lacerations, injuries following a truck accident are often life-changing.

Much Larger Medical Bills – The amount of time spent in a hospital tends to be much longer than car accident-related injuries. Victims of truck accidents are unable to return to work for a prolonged period of time, if at all. By working with an experienced lawyer at Morgan & Morgan, we can more accurately calculate your current and future pain and suffering to obtain the compensation you truly deserve.

Greater Chance of Death – An accident with a large commercial truck is far more likely to result in death than a crash between two passenger cars. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there are between 3,000 and 5,000 deaths due to truck accidents every year.

Considering the number of variables involved in truck accidents and the considerable resources wielded by the trucking companies and their insurers, getting a no-cost case assessment is a recommended first step when deciding whether to obtain the services of a lawyer.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident, there are a number of parties who may be liable for your losses. It is not uncommon for these parties to deny fault or liability for a crash. The liable parties for a trucking accident can include the following:

• Truck driver
• Truck company
• Owner of the truck
• Company leasing the truck
• Company leasing the trailer
• Shipper who wanted the load transported
• Truck, trailer or parts manufacturer