Difference Between Truck Accidents and Car Accidents
When you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, the experience can be overwhelming. However, not all accidents are the same—especially when it comes to collisions involving large commercial trucks. Learn more about the difference between truck accidents and car accidents.
Truck accidents are significantly different from car accidents in terms of severity, legal complexity, and liability.
Understanding these differences is crucial if you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in San Diego.
It is critically important that your attorney have the experience, skill, and resources to handle your truck accident case. That means, that your attorney must know the federal and state rules and regulations pertaining to commercial trucks, the various ways the truck operator and companies can be negligent or liable, and the ways to immediately preserve critical evidence that can be lost if the case is not handled promptly and correctly.
That’s where Jassim Law can step in to help protect your rights and seek the compensation you deserve.
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Size and Impact | Truck Accidents and Car Accidents
The most obvious difference between truck and car accidents is the size and weight of the vehicles involved. A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average passenger car weighs about 3,000 to 4,000 pounds.
Because of this disparity, truck accidents often result in more severe injuries or fatalities. Victims in smaller vehicles are more vulnerable to catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, or multiple fractures.
Also, because of the serious and dangerous nature of trucks, there are many different laws and regulations in place that are intended to keep the public safe and protected from profit driven truck companies. For example, there are strict rules against the number of hours a person can drive a truck; there are rules about monitoring driving; rules against cell phone usage, texting, and required rest periods.
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Severity of Injuries
Due to the force involved in a truck collision, injuries are usually more serious and require longer recovery times. Victims may need extensive medical treatment, physical therapy, or even long-term care. These factors lead to higher medical costs and greater emotional and financial burdens. Truck accident victims are more likely to suffer from permanent disabilities or chronic pain compared to car accident victims.
If you are thrust into the world of catastrophic injuries, you will require an attorney that has the knowledge, skill and experience in helping you navigate the medical system, getting you the best treatment available, even if you do not have medical/health insurance or high quality medical insurance.
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Complex Liability Issues
Determining liability in a truck accident is far more complicated than in a typical car accident. In a car crash, liability usually falls on one or both drivers. In truck accidents, multiple parties may be responsible, including:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The cargo loading team
- The trucking broker
- The truck manufacturer
- Maintenance contractors
Each of these parties may carry separate insurance policies and legal teams. Investigating the cause of the accident often requires an in-depth look at driver logs, maintenance records, GPS data, telemetrics, and black box (Event Data Recorder) information—making the legal process more complex and time-consuming.
Beyond this, when a truck is involved in a collision the insurance carrier for the truck driver or company may immediately send out their attorneys and experts to the scene, which may result in an unfair advantage and even the loss of critical evidence.
Unlike a typical auto accident, when a large truck or commercial vehicle is involved, you need your legal team to immediately put defendants and their insurance carriers on notice to preserve evidence, to inspect the scene, physical evidence such as the debris field and skid marks, road gouges/marks, witness statements, and potential surveillance video.
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Federal and State Regulations
Truck drivers and trucking companies are subject to strict federal and state regulations enforced by agencies like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
These rules govern everything from the number of hours a driver can operate without rest to vehicle maintenance standards and load limits.
Violations of these regulations can play a crucial role in proving negligence in a truck accident case. An experienced attorney can investigate whether any of these laws were broken and use that to strengthen your claim.
Further, your attorney should have access to the best truck experts nationwide, who can evaluate and inspect the vehicles involved, and the facts leading up to the crash – this will help determine the root cause of the collision along with contributing factors.
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Insurance and Compensation Challenges
Trucking companies typically carry higher insurance policies, as required by law. This means there’s more money at stake, more harm involved, and therefore a more complex and vigorous defense.
Unfortunately, this often leads to aggressive defense tactics and delays from insurance carriers trying to minimize their payout. Trucking insurers may dispute liability, downplay injuries, or attempt to shift blame to the victim.
How Jassim Law Can Help After an Accident | Truck Accidents and Car Accidents
At Jassim Law, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll a serious truck accident can take on victims and their families. With years of experience handling complex personal injury claims in San Diego, we have the tools and resources necessary to take on large trucking companies and their insurers.
Here’s how we can help:
- Thorough and Prompt Investigation: We will gather and analyze critical evidence, such as black box data, driver logs, and maintenance records.
- Expert Testimony: We work with accident reconstructionist, medical professionals, and trucking experts to build a strong case.
- Aggressive Advocacy: We negotiate skillfully with insurance companies and are fully prepared to take your case to trial if needed.
- Personalized Attention: We treat every client like family. You’ll receive honest guidance and compassionate support throughout the legal process.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in San Diego, don’t face the legal battle alone. Let Jassim Law fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation and let us help you start your road to recovery.
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Contact us today at (858) 524-6140 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation. Let us be your advocates in securing the compensation you need to move forward with your life.
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