How Truck Accidents Differ From Car Accidents

There is a major difference between getting involved in an accident with just passenger vehicles involved and an accident that involves a truck. Foremost among the differences is the relative damage and likelihood of serious injuries or fatalities between the two. Accidents involving trucks are far more likely to cause extreme damage to the other vehicle. They also carry a much higher likelihood of causing more severe injuries and potentially death. The sheer size and weight of the truck make an accident involving one much more probable to be more damaging and injurious than accidents between cars.  

Truck Crash Causes

While most passenger vehicle accidents happen due to human error, truck accidents more often have other factors involved in causing accidents involving them. Primarily, it is the size of the truck and its maneuverability. Trucks are harder to control and, therefore, it is tougher to safely operate them through risky areas of traffic. A truck may not be able to get out of the way of a car that tries to pass them too closely or may not be able to stop as quickly as a car or make turns as effectively, which can lead to accidents.  

Another potential cause of truck accidents is equipment failure. The truck driver and trucking company are expected to conduct certain inspections on the truck. If they fail to do so, malfunctions can happen, which can lead to an accident. It might also be a manufacturing defect that leads to an accident, which means the injured victim should file a claim against the manufacturer of the truck.  

Driver error, of course, is also a common cause, however not as common as it is amongst car accidents, relatively speaking. More often than not, the accidents involving trucks are caused by some inherent feature of operating a truck that is unique and not commonly found in car accidents. 

Liability

Truck accidents also differ from car accidents because, unlike car accidents where you’d be trying to recover compensation from the other driver themselves and their insurance company, in truck accidents, the number of potential defendants is far more. Often, the party you’d have to sue to collect damages isn’t going to be the individual driver.  

Rather, when involved in a truck accident, you will likely be suing the truck company rather than the driver, as the company is vicariously liable for the acts of its employees. This means dealing with very aggressive insurance companies with highly trained lawyers dedicated to denying you and your claim a settlement remotely worth what your claim is actually valued at.

Truck accidents can be significantly more complex than crashes involving passenger vehicles. This is due to the often multiple sources of liability and potentially greater damages involved. This is why if you are involved in a truck accident, you need a dedicated lawyer by your side who is experienced in handling cases involving truck accidents and has an established record of success.

How an Illinois Truck Accident Lawyer from Pinkston Law Group P.C. Can Help

If you’ve suffered injuries as the victim of an accident involving a truck in the Joliet region of Illinois, you need a dedicated lawyer to navigate the complexities of these cases to help you receive proper compensation. The Pinkston Law Group P.C. has a team of professional attorneys who are dedicated to helping victims like you receive full compensation for the injuries caused by an accident involving a truck. We have an experienced track record of success in helping our clients obtain what they’re entitled to insofar as compensation for injuries caused in a trucking accident. To get connected with one of our professional attorneys for a consultation on your case, contact us online right away.