What You Should Know about Semi Truck Accidents
Did you know that 23% of all motor vehicle wrecks are rear-end collisions? That means if you’re in a wreck, there’s a 1 in 4 chance that you’re hit from behind. As semi-truck accident lawyers in Dallas, we see plenty of wrecks that are rear-end collisions with the big rig at fault.
What should you expect after one of these crashes? What leads up to them? We’ll see what the Car Crash Captain has to say about getting rear-ended by a semi.
Why Are Rear-End Collisions so Common?
Getting hit from behind is largely due to one factor: not paying attention. The driver behind you, for whatever reason, isn’t watching where he or she is going and they slam into the back of you. The modern use of smart phones has only exacerbated this problem.
What about in the case of a semi? At that point it can get a little more complicated than just not paying attention.
A fully loaded semi can take as much as 1.5 times the distance to stop than a passenger vehicle. So, if you slam on your brakes and it takes you 100 feet to stop, the truck following behind you will take 150 feet. This added stopping time can create some serious problems.
If the truck driver isn’t paying attention while driving, the vehicle ahead is in danger if they have to stop – even when the driver is following at a safe distance, that extra second or two makes a big difference.
On the other hand, maybe the trucker is paying attention. There are still instances where a rear-end collision occurs. If the trucker acts with lightning reflexes, but they’re following too closely, a wreck will still happen.
Now, there is a situation where you’re hit from behind and the truck driver might not be deemed at fault. You probably know where we’re going with this. If you cut in front of the truck, and then slam on your brakes in a fit of road rage, that truck will likely plow into the back of you and you’ll be held liable. Brake checking is never a good idea – it’s an even worse idea to try to brake check an 80,000-pound vehicle.
What Happens when a Semi-Truck Rear Ends You?
The best-case scenario is that your vehicle is pretty smashed up – likely going to be deemed a total loss. This best-case scenario, however, isn’t the most common. Due to the weight difference between your passenger rig and the big rig, serious injuries are usually the result. Often, you’re not the only victim.
When you’re hit by a semi-truck, your vehicle gets pushed around as though it weighs nothing. This can lead to a multi-car pileup. Depending on how fast the big rig was going at the time of impact determines how much damage everyone sustains – there are plenty of videos out there that show truck drivers that were distracted, and they plow through a line of stopped cars.
Common Injuries Semi-Truck Accident Lawyers See
Basically any injury from an accident that you can think of happens when semi-trucks rear-end passenger vehicles.
Whiplash – even low speed collisions can result in strained necks.
Broken bones – spinal injuries are common, but other broken bones are as well.
Head injuries – including TBI from the head impacting a part of the vehicle.
Lacerations and bruising – the seatbelt can cause major bruising; broken glass can cut.
Even what appear to be minor injuries can lead to lifelong complications, and high medical bills. It’s important to have a semi-truck accident lawyer on your side to ensure the compensation you receive is enough to cover those bills.
Herbert Law Group has Your Back
Herbert Law Group is on your side. Our goal as semi-truck accident lawyers is to ensure that you aren’t left wondering what to do. We know that recovery can be long and hard, and you don’t deserve to suffer financially as well.
If you, or a loved one, have been involved in a semi-truck accident, then we should talk about what happened and determine just where Herbert Law Group can help.
Call us at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site, and we’ll reach out for a free get-to-know-you conversation.