Commercial truck accidents cause devastating injuries. The size and weight difference between an 80,000-pound semi-truck and a passenger vehicle means occupants of smaller vehicles bear the brunt of the impact. These crashes often result in catastrophic injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, and fatalities.
Truck accident claims involve different legal considerations than typical car accident cases. Multiple parties may share liability, federal regulations govern trucking operations, and insurance coverage is significantly higher. Our friends at Rasmussen & Miner discuss how these factors make truck accident cases more involved than standard motor vehicle claims. A truck accident lawyer handles the unique aspects of commercial vehicle crashes, from investigating federal regulation violations to dealing with corporate defendants and their insurers.
Why Truck Accidents Cause Severe Injuries
The physics of truck accidents explain why injuries are so serious. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, large trucks were involved in over 5,700 fatal crashes in 2022. The massive weight disparity means passenger vehicles crumple on impact while truck occupants often walk away relatively unharmed.
Truck accidents also involve unique crash dynamics. Jackknife accidents, underride collisions, rollover crashes, and wide turn accidents create dangers that don’t exist with passenger vehicles. These crash types often cause multiple-vehicle pileups with numerous injured victims.
Federal Regulations Governing Truckers
The trucking industry operates under extensive federal regulations that don’t apply to regular drivers. Hours of service rules limit how long truck drivers can operate without rest breaks. These regulations exist because fatigued driving contributes to many truck accidents.
Key federal rules include:
- Maximum 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty
- Mandatory electronic logging devices to track driving time
- Regular vehicle inspection and maintenance requirements
- Drug and alcohol testing programs
- Commercial driver’s license requirements and training standards
Violations of these regulations can establish liability in accident cases. We review driver logs, inspection records, and company policies to identify regulatory violations that contributed to crashes.
Multiple Potentially Liable Parties
Truck accident cases often involve several defendants. The truck driver, trucking company, vehicle owner, cargo loading company, and maintenance providers may all share responsibility. Determining which parties bear liability requires investigation into how the accident happened and who failed in their duties.
Trucking companies sometimes try to classify drivers as independent contractors to avoid liability. However, if the company exercises significant control over the driver’s work, they may still be responsible under legal doctrines like respondeat superior or negligent hiring and supervision.
Cargo loading companies can be liable if improper loading or securing of freight caused the accident. Overloaded trucks or unbalanced loads affect vehicle handling and braking. Maintenance companies that performed negligent repairs may also face liability.
Insurance Coverage In Truck Accidents
Federal law requires commercial trucks to carry minimum insurance coverage of $750,000 to $5 million depending on the type of cargo. These higher policy limits reflect the serious injuries these accidents cause. However, trucking companies and their insurers fight hard to minimize payouts.
Insurance companies often dispatch investigators to accident scenes immediately to gather evidence favorable to their position. They may try to get recorded statements from injured victims before those victims understand the full extent of their injuries or consult with attorneys.
Evidence In Truck Accident Cases
Black box data from electronic logging devices and onboard event data recorders provides objective evidence about vehicle speed, braking, and driver actions before the crash. This data can prove whether the driver was speeding, following too closely, or driving while fatigued.
Trucking companies must preserve this evidence once they know about a potential claim, but data can be lost or destroyed if not secured quickly. We send preservation letters immediately to prevent spoliation of evidence.
Other important evidence includes driver qualification files, maintenance records, inspection reports, drug and alcohol test results, and prior safety violations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration maintains safety records for trucking companies that show their compliance history.
Medical Treatment And Damages
Truck accident injuries often require extensive medical treatment including emergency surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and ongoing care. Medical expenses can reach hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars for severe injuries.
Beyond medical costs, victims may be unable to work for extended periods or suffer permanent disabilities that prevent them from returning to their previous occupations. Lost earning capacity represents a significant component of damages in serious truck accident cases.
Pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disfigurement or disability also factor into compensation. Calculating the full value of these damages requires understanding both the immediate and long-term impact of injuries.
Time Limits For Filing Claims
Statutes of limitations for truck accident claims vary by state but typically range from one to three years. Waiting too long means losing your right to pursue compensation. Given the investigation required and the time needed to fully understand the extent of injuries, starting the legal process early is important.
Some truck accident cases settle during negotiations, while others require litigation. Trucking companies and their insurers have substantial resources and experienced defense teams. Having representation that understands the unique aspects of commercial vehicle litigation helps level the playing field.
Protecting Your Legal Rights
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, focus first on getting necessary medical treatment and documenting your injuries. Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance companies before speaking with an attorney, as these statements can be used to minimize your claim. The legal and factual issues in truck accident cases require careful analysis of federal regulations, industry standards, and multiple potential defendants. Contact our firm to discuss your truck accident case and learn how we can help you pursue fair compensation for your injuries and losses.