For many, it’s considered their worst nightmare. A major semi truck accident that can result in critical injuries and even death. Unfortunately, the odds for semi accidents occurring are high. For every 100 million miles driven on U.S roads, there are 2.3 deaths and 60.5 injuries caused by big rigs.
In addition to their high frequency, there are a number of factors that set semi truck accidents apart from traditional car accidents. While the differences may not be so obvious at first, noticing them can determine whether or not a victim receives the compensation and care they deserve.
Here we will dig into 6 of the major differences between semi accidents and regular car accidents. This will make you aware of the many outcomes of such a traumatic event.
Different Rules and Regulations
Commercial trucks and semi trucks are used to make large deliveries and function more like a business than a regular automobile. Which is why these types of vehicles run under different rules and regulations.
Some differences in regulations include how the truck is maintained, the qualifications of the driver and the inspections the truck must undergo each year. If these regulations are not met then there’s a higher likelihood for steeper compensation.
Since normal passenger automobiles function under regulations that are not as strict, determining the cause of a truck incident can be much more complicated.
Higher Property Damage for Semi Accidents
The average semi truck can weight up to 80,000 pounds. Which means the amount of property damage that can occur is high. With so much force and so much metal, buildings, roads, and signs are often counter damage during an accident. The height and the width of a semi truck also guarantee that some form of damage will occur during an accident.
Due to the higher likelihood of property damage, semi truck accidents face large property damage fees. Depending on the amount of damage and what is damaged these property damage fees could be on a private level or a state level.
Higher Likelihood of Serious Injury
One of the harshest consequences of terrible semi-truck accidents is the injuries that they inflict. The fact is the force of an 80,000 pound truck against that of a 3,000-pound car leads to injuries. That can often be both traumatic and in some cases even permanent.
Some common injuries that come from semi-truck accidents include hematoma, hemorrhage, concussion, edema, skull fracture, spondylolisthesis, cervical radiculopathy, whiplash, broken bones and in some cases even death.
Even after treatment, often those who have experienced such an accident can find it difficult to return to work or even do simple daily tasks. Which is why many truck companies hold insurance that compensates such risks.
Higher Medical Bills
The high risk of serious injury goes hand in hand with the skyrocketing price of medical bills. More severe accidents can lead to multiple surgeries. Some accidents even require medical assistance and physical therapy for the rest of the patient’s life.
It also means that such bills will be even harder to cover if the injured is unable to return to work and perform their duties. No work and towering bills are huge factors in whether or not the injured party receives the treatment they need.
All of these factors must be taken into account to determine how much compensation would be sufficient.
Higher Likelihood of Death
For some, the injury is a greater outcome than what could happen. Unfortunately, many semi truck incidents result in death, whether immediate or slowly due to injury. In fact, large truck accidents are responsible for 3,000 to 5,000 deaths.
These statistics are a great leap from the likelihood of death between two passenger vehicles. Not only is a death an intense tragedy to deal with, but often such death can lead to financial hardship. If the one who passed was the primary breadwinner in a household, things can be very difficult.
In any instance, a death from a semi truck accident affects a number of people for the rest of their lives.
Need for a Specialized Attorney
With all of the variables taken into account, it’s easy to see why semi truck accidents can be such a critical and complicated thing to process. Without knowing the laws, regulations, and amount of short term and long term damage that can be caused, many passengers harmed in a semi accident walk away with much less than they’ll need.
This occurs even more often when the semi-truck company makes the first offer, that seems like it would be more than enough. Sadly, most people find that after taking such an offer their injuries are worse than anticipated and they may have to deal with a lifetime of pain and discomfort.
For those who lose a friend or family member in such an accident, it can seem impossible to put a price on your loved one’s life. Often legal teams will prey on grieving family members, knowing they already can’t handle more than what’s occurred.
This is why the victims of semi truck accidents receive the best results when represented by an attorney with experience in such a matter.
If you’ve been involved in such an accident it’s important to learn more about your rights in such a circumstance.
Recovering After a Semi Truck Accident
It’s rare that semi accidents leave a car in repairable condition. However, if you’re one of the lucky few that escaped such an accident with your life and car intact, you’ll want to have your repair done by someone you can trust…yourself.
That’s why we’ve created custom DIY repair guides and auto repair manuals. They’ll provide you with everything you need to repair your vehicle yourself. Skip the small talk, long wait, and steep bills and take your auto repair into your own hands.
You’d be amazed at just how easy it is to handle all the repairs you need from the comfort of your own garage.