A rear-end collision is a particularly serious matter when it comes to large vehicles like semi trucks. Weighing in at 80,000 pounds, a fully-loaded truck is 40 times heavier than a passenger vehicle.
Sharing the Road with Semi-Trucks
Because of their size, semi-trucks move more slowly, are less maneuverable and take longer to stop or change course when compared to passenger cars and smaller trucks. To make matters worse, semi-trucks often carry hazardous (hazmat) materials which can be flammable, explosive, poisonous or otherwise dangerous. The risk of a truck exploding or catching fire increases exponentially when trucks transport this type of cargo.
How to Cover your Medical Expenses and Lost Income After a Rear-End Truck Collision?
While nothing can erase the damage after a trucking accident, compensation can help ease the financial burden and help pay for:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral costs, in the case of a wrongful death suit
- Cause of Rear-End Collisions
Most rear-end trucking accidents can be attributed to truck driver negligence, including:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Driving too fast for weather or road conditions
- Aggressive driving
- Cutting off cars when changing lanes
- Tailgating
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Exceeding weight limits
- Defective or poorly maintained brakes
- In addition to driver negligence, semi-trucks are unable to slow down quickly because the stopping distance is much longer for large trucks. This can cause an accident when a driver is required to make a sudden stop to avoid a crash.
Who is to Blame for a Rear-End Trucking Accident?
Determining liability after a trucking accident can be complex, as many factors are involved. The vehicle striking from the rear is to blame in most scenarios. However, there may be exceptions if the driver has limited visibility, distance or time to react.
Truckers are expected to follow the rules of the road, maintain a safe following distance and anticipate hazards. A truck driver can be held liable for not allowing enough room, speeding or distracted driving.
A truck driver’s fleet company or transport company may also be held liable for an employee’s accident. However, most large trucking companies will have a team of litigators to build a strong defense and minimize liability in case of an accident.
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