When you are involved in a crash in North Carolina, you might sustain injuries and economic losses. An accident involving a large truck can be much more dangerous, however. Truck accidents differ from other motor vehicle accidents in several important ways, and injury claims following truck collisions are more complex.
More severe injuries in truck accidents
In general, injuries sustained in accidents with commercial trucks tend to be much more severe than those suffered in other types of car accidents. This is due to the weight and size differences between large trucks and passenger vehicles. Large trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. By contrast, the average passenger vehicle weighs slightly more than 4,000 pounds. When a truck collides with a smaller, lighter vehicle, the physical forces released in the crash are much stronger and frequently pass through the car instead of being absorbed by the smaller vehicle’s frame. This can result in catastrophic injuries and fatalities to the occupants inside of the car.
Multiple potentially liable parties
In a car accident, there are frequently only two parties involved, making liability determinations simpler. By contrast, multiple parties can be liable in a large truck accident, including the following:
- Truck driver
- Logistics carrier
- Leasing company that owns the truck
- Third-party maintenance and repair company
- Truck manufacturer or defective parts manufacturer
- Entities responsible for maintaining the roads
Determining which parties to name as defendants in a truck accident claim is important to protect the rights of victims to recover full compensation. Insurance companies tend to aggressively defend against truck accident claims because of the substantial sums that might be involved. Because of the potentially complex nature of these types of lawsuits, people might benefit from consulting with experienced truck accident attorneys for help with their personal injury claims.
