Over 60% of car accidents are made up of collisions between large trucks and small cars. The driver of the truck is usually at fault, however claiming liability may result in them losing their job. This is why it is not uncommon for the driver of a truck to blame the driver of the smaller car. When a car driver or truck driver deflects fault, it can result in a long and confusing settlement process so if you were involved in a truck accident, regardless of who was at fault, you should contact an attorney to represent you.
Common Causes of Accidents
The most common reason for these kinds of accidents based on usage. Because it is an offense that has a high penalization rate, drivers will usually shift the blame to the other party. It is hard to judge liability in this situation because the odds are higher that there is no evidence to support phone usage. Another common cause of an accident is unsafe lane changes and merging. Truck drivers have more blind spots than normal car drivers, thus making it more difficult to change lanes without causing collisions. Fatigue is definitely not uncommon in truck drivers that are compensated according to the mileage that they drive. This actually causes very dangerous and terrifying incentive for drivers of these big trucks to extend hours of driving and overworking the truck driver beyond the legal limits. Big trucks and semis can be both heavy and powerful, and also tend to operate at higher speeds so that they do not fall behind on time or road progress. This makes them lethal vehicles in many different ways and circumstances. If a truck is following too close behind to a driver, it may not be able to hit its brakes in time. When a truck is put into a position where it must slow down or completely stop in a quick manner, it most likely will not be able to do so because of how heavy it is. It then has the frightening capability to crush anything that is in its path including cars, animals, and even people.
Contact an Attorney
Consider contacting an attorney, like a personal injury lawyer relies on, if you have been in an accident involving a large truck. They can help further assist you in court, in your claim, and ensure that you receive fair compensation in the settlement.