When driving accidents occur between a commercial truck and a car, the damages can be catastrophic, most of the time even fatal.
Statistics show that each year there are over 4,5K large truck crashes involved in fatal accidents.
Many things can go wrong when large commercial transport trucks carry unsecured loads, have defective equipment, or are operated by a negligent party. Among the 8,114 commercial motor vehicle accidents on Miami-Dade roads that were registered over a three-year period, 18 involved fatalities. In 98% of truck-related crashes, the accident victims were the driver or the occupants of a passenger car.
Here, at The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary, our principal attorney represents injured victims of truck accidents vs. car accidents on a regular basis, and we have a proven track record of obtaining just compensation in these types of cases. Contact our personal injury law firm for a free initial consultation.
Truck vs. Car: Weight Is Important in the Event of an Automobile Accident
The majority of passenger vehicles have similar sizes, including sedans and sports vehicles. Minivans and SUVs may sometimes be considered passenger vehicles, while other times, they may be classified as light trucks. However, large commercial transport trucks come in all shapes and sizes, including heavy-duty pickups, semi-trailers, box trucks, and more.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, because passenger cars have less structure and size to absorb crash energy, they have a higher crash force and can be easily crushed, run off the road, or destroyed head-on. A truck can weigh up to 80K pounds, while a car weighs merely 3K pounds, and, logically, the smaller vehicle experiences most of the damage.
In the event of a crash between a light vehicle and a heavier vehicle, more damage will occur to the lightest-weight vehicle. The outcome for vehicle occupants involved in big rig-related collisions is often fatal and catastrophic.
Types of Truck vs. Car Accidents
There are many different types of truck vs. car accidents, including:
- Head-on crashes
- Rear-end collisions
- Rollovers
- Jackknife accidents
- Side-impact collisions
- Sideswipes
- Truck underrides
- Runaway trailers
Furthermore, blind spot accidents are common as many heavy trucks have what is referred to as a "no-zone." These are areas around the truck where a truck driver may not be able to spot a car and may collide with it much more easily. Often, passenger car drivers hang out in the blind spot of a heavy truck, placing their lives at risk in the event of a collision between the two types of vehicles.
A significant number of collisions may be caused by transport trucks in poor operating condition, some of the main factors in truck crashes being:
- Faulty brakes
- Damaged axles
- Blown tires or detached wheels
- Defective hitches
- Unsecured loads
At times, unsecured loads or truck equipment flying into the path of other vehicles produced catastrophic outcomes.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Truck Crash in Miami?
To reach a fair settlement, you should name all parties who could share responsibility for the crash, for example, the truck driver and the transportation company they work for. Under the respondeat superior doctrine, the employer is directly liable for any act committed by the employees in the course and purpose of their work.
To hold a trucking company liable for serious injuries you have suffered in a truck vs. car accident in Miami, a few elements must be present:
- The truck driver must have been doing his job under his employer's instructions
- The employer must have been in a position to control the employee's activity
- The employee's actions must have occurred within the purpose of his work duties
Who Will Pay for the Damages?
If the trucking company is responsible for the truck accident you have suffered, its auto insurance will then cover all the economic damages and any other type of damages.
Trucking companies are well aware of the risk of truck accidents in Miami today, and when accidents and serious injuries do happen due to their negligence, they can be held liable. That is the reason why they have insurance coverage. Trucking is a very competitive field, and companies operate under tight profit margins so each year, companies pay insurance carriers to protect themselves.
If you decide to file a compensation claim, the matter is already in the hands of the truck company's insurer.
Contact Sean M. Cleary, Miami Truck Accident Attorney
As a driver, you may not always realize that sharing the road with a truck is very different from sharing it with another small vehicle. You always need to stay alert and use good common sense on the road.
You have to know that each accident that involves a truck is different, and if you want to have the best chance of recovering maximum compensation, you need to understand all aspects involved in filing a personal injury claim.
Do not let others take advantage of you just because you are unfamiliar with the process of claiming the compensation that is rightfully yours. Contact our Miami auto accident attorney for a free case evaluation.