Truck Accidents

Overview

The size and weight difference between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle can contribute to serious injuries. These claims may also involve records and legal duties that do not arise in a typical two-car crash.

Truck accident cases are fundamentally different from standard auto accident claims. They involve federal safety regulations, corporate liability, multiple insurance policies, and sophisticated defense teams employed by trucking companies and their insurers. Having an attorney with specific experience in truck accident litigation is critical to protecting your rights and recovering the full compensation you deserve.

Common Causes

Truck accidents are often the result of systemic failures — not just a single moment of carelessness. Understanding these causes is essential because multiple parties may share responsibility.

Driver Fatigue

Federal hours-of-service rules limit when and how long many commercial drivers may drive. Driver logs and related records may be relevant when fatigue is alleged.

Distracted Driving

Truck drivers who text, make phone calls, eat, or adjust navigation systems while operating a massive vehicle put everyone on the road at risk. At highway speeds, even a brief moment of distraction can be fatal.

Improper Loading and Cargo Securement

Overloaded or improperly secured cargo can shift during transit, causing the truck to become unstable, jackknife, or roll over. Cargo loading companies and shippers may bear liability when loading errors contribute to an accident.

Inadequate Maintenance

Commercial trucks require rigorous and regular maintenance. Brake failures, tire blowouts, steering malfunctions, and lighting problems are often traceable to deferred maintenance or negligent inspections.

Aggressive and Reckless Driving

Speeding, tailgating, unsafe lane changes, and failure to yield can be especially dangerous in a large commercial vehicle. A carrier's conduct may also be relevant, depending on the facts and law.

Driving Under the Influence

Commercial drivers are subject to specific federal and state alcohol and drug rules. The rules that apply depend on the driver, vehicle, and jurisdiction.

Types of Injuries

Due to the extreme forces involved, truck accident injuries tend to be more severe than those in standard car crashes. Many victims face long-term disabilities, permanent impairments, or death.

• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis — The impact of a truck collision can fracture vertebrae or sever the spinal cord, potentially resulting in partial or complete paralysis.
• Traumatic brain injuries — Severe head trauma can cause lasting cognitive impairment, personality changes, and loss of motor function.
• Crush injuries — Passenger vehicles can be compressed or pinned by trucks, crushing occupants and causing complex injuries to limbs and internal organs.
• Severe burns — Truck accidents involving fuel spills or hazardous materials can cause fires and explosions, resulting in extensive burn injuries.
• Amputations — The force of a truck collision can cause limb loss at the scene or necessitate surgical amputation during treatment.
• Internal organ damage — Blunt force trauma can rupture organs, cause internal bleeding, and create life-threatening emergencies.
• Multiple fractures — Broken ribs, pelvic fractures, and compound fractures are common and often require multiple surgeries and months of rehabilitation.

Multiple Liable Parties

One of the distinguishing features of truck accident cases is the potential involvement of multiple liable parties. Unlike a typical car accident where the other driver is the primary defendant, truck accident liability can extend to several entities.

• The truck driver — For negligent behaviors such as fatigue, distraction, impairment, or traffic violations.
• The trucking company — For negligent hiring, inadequate training, failure to enforce Hours of Service rules, or pressure to meet unrealistic schedules.
• The truck manufacturer — For defective vehicle components such as brakes, tires, or steering systems.
• Cargo loading companies — For overloading or improperly securing freight.
• Maintenance providers — For negligent inspections, repairs, or failure to identify safety hazards.
• Government entities — For dangerous road conditions, inadequate signage, or poorly designed intersections.

Compensation Available

Truck collisions can involve serious injuries and multiple sources of insurance. Any available compensation depends on the injuries, evidence, insurance coverage, responsible parties, and applicable law.

• Comprehensive medical expenses — Emergency care, surgeries, hospitalization, rehabilitation, long-term care, assistive devices, home modifications, and future medical needs
• Lost income and diminished earning capacity — Current and future lost wages, career changes necessitated by disability, and loss of retirement and benefit accumulations
• Pain and suffering — Physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, anxiety, and depression resulting from the accident and its aftermath
• Loss of consortium — Compensation for the impact on your relationship with your spouse or partner
• Punitive damages — When a trucking company or driver acted with willful disregard for safety, courts may award punitive damages to deter similar conduct

What to Do After a Truck Accident

1. Call 911 immediately — Truck accidents are serious emergencies. Request police and paramedics right away.
2. Consider prompt medical evaluation — Some injuries are not immediately apparent. Seek emergency help for urgent symptoms and follow medical advice.
3. Document the scene — Photograph the truck, its markings, the DOT number on the side of the cab, license plates, cargo, debris, skid marks, and your injuries.
4. Get witness information — Truck accident witnesses are invaluable. Collect names and phone numbers from anyone who saw the accident.
5. Be careful with recorded statements — Before giving a recorded statement or signing a release, understand who is requesting it and how it may be used.
6. Ask about evidence preservation — Electronic logging data, dashcam footage, and maintenance records may not be kept indefinitely. A licensed attorney can explain preservation options and deadlines that may apply.

How Claim Bureau Helps

Truck accident claims can involve federal regulations, multiple potentially responsible parties, and several types of evidence. If an attorney contacts you, ask about their relevant experience, fees, case costs, and who would handle the matter.

Claim Bureau is a paid advertising and marketing service, not a law firm or lawyer referral service. You can share the details of your accident for a free case review. Your information may be sent to one or more participating independent attorneys in your area for possible follow-up. Claim Bureau does not match, assign, endorse, or guarantee any attorney, and contact or representation is not guaranteed.

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This information is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Laws and deadlines vary by jurisdiction. Consult a licensed attorney about your situation.