How are Truck Accidents and Injuries Different from Other California Collisions?

Our Whittier auto accident attorneys at Hanning & Sacchetto, LLP know that filing a personal injury claim of any kind can be challenging for California residents to navigate on their own. Facing a negligent driver’s insurance company can be intimidating and overwhelming, which is exactly how they like it. Insurance representatives believe the harder they make the recovery process, the sooner you will give up.

For anyone who has been involved in so much as a fender bender, you understand the process isn’t fair. Now, imagine having to pursue a catastrophic injury claim against multiple parties with corporate attorneys and policies in place that are specifically designed to avoid compensating you at all.

That is the first difference between car accidents and semi-truck or other commercial vehicle accidents. Here, our vehicle collision attorneys in Los Angeles County explain the others.

The Size of the Vehicles Involved in the Crash Matters

If you have ever traveled alongside a semi-truck in California, the proximity to such a large vehicle can be intimidating — especially if the truck driver swerves, dangerously changes lanes, or is slow to stop when approaching traffic.

Beyond their commanding size, semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. In comparison, a standard passenger vehicle typically weighs two to three thousand pounds. The weight and size of this much larger vehicle colliding with a car, truck, or SUV can crush the smaller vehicle at any speed. This catastrophic damage often leads to severe injuries to the other vehicle’s occupants — not the truck driver.

What’s more, in large truck accidents where there was a fatality in the U.S. last year, 71% of the people killed were occupants of other vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Catastrophic Injuries Mean Longer Recoveries & Extended Time Away from Work

Semi-truck accidents not only lead to more significant injuries to those in the much smaller passenger vehicles, but their extensive injuries also translate into additional damages.

Common semi-truck accident injuries may include, but are not limited to, crushed bones, neck and spine injuries, Traumatic Brain Injuries, internal bleeding and organ damage, paralysis, and scarring or disfigurement. These injuries will require extended medical care, surgeries, specialty physician appointments, rehabilitation, and therapy that can take months or even years to achieve maximum medical improvement. In addition, it may be very difficult to return to work during the recovery process. This means mounting medical bills and lost wages can be both immediately overwhelming and lead to long-term financial difficulties.

Multiple Parties May Be Liable for Your Financial Recovery

Semi-truck and other commercial vehicle collisions are complex and require an experienced Whittier truck accident attorney to investigate the crash and the negligent parties who may be liable for your full financial recovery.

That may include the truck driver, trucking company, or another third party like the cargo loader, the truck’s manufacturer, or the maintenance crew.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a collision with a semi-truck that was caused by negligence, contact our skilled personal injury attorneys in Whittier, California at Hanning & Sacchetto today by calling (562) 698-6446 to schedule a free consultation today. 

We will help you recognize the differences between pursuing a truck accident with injuries claim and pursuing a fair financial recovery settlement for your complete damages.