Not all motor vehicle accidents are equivalent. In particular, accidents involving a large truck like a tractor-trailer (aka a big rig, semi, or 18-wheeler) can be especially devastating and difficult.
But what makes them so different? Here are three main ways truck accidents are different from car accidents – and what that can mean when pursuing a claim for compensation afterwards.
Rates of Property Damage, Injury, and Fatalities are Higher
A fully loaded tractor-trailer weighs around 80,000 pounds. The average passenger car weighs around 4,000 pounds. At about 20 times the weight of the average car, a large truck is obviously going to cause a lot more damage in an accident than another car.
What this means for a claim or lawsuit: More extensive property damage, worse injuries, and a higher rate of fatality often means higher levels of compensation in a settlement or jury verdict after an accident caused by a large truck.
Determining Liability Is More Complex
Compared with traffic accidents between two passenger cars, a large truck-car accident is less straightforward when it comes to determining liability. That’s because there are many parties who may be found fully or partially liable for the accident, including the car driver, the truck driver, the trucking company, the party responsible for maintaining the truck, the party responsible for loading the truck, and more. In fact, the issue of determining liability is so critical in truck cases, we have an entire blog on it (read Understanding Liability in Truck Accidents here).
What this means for a claim or lawsuit: Determining and apportioning liability after a truck accident can take a long time, meaning that it can be many months or years before all parties reach a settlement (or before a jury trial takes place).
Trucking Companies Have Their Own Investigators and Attorneys
Because truck accidents can cost trucking companies (and other liable parties) so much money, they are highly motivated to protect themselves and build a strong case in their defense. To do this, most trucking companies employ their own investigators and attorneys to gather evidence and build a strong case after an accident.
What this means for a claim or lawsuit: Trucking companies (and other liable parties) have professionals building a strong case to protect themselves and reduce the amount of money they pay out after an accident caused by the truck. You should do the same by working with a truck accident attorney who will investigate and build a strong case for you.
Call the Truck Accident Attorneys at The Carolina Law Group
Car accidents are not the same as truck accidents, and car accident cases are not the same as truck accident cases. If you’ve been injured in an accident with a tractor-trailer, you should speak with an attorney who has experience successfully handling truck accident cases – not just car accident cases. Here at The Carolina Law Group, our truck accident lawyers have the knowledge and experience to investigate, build a strong case, and stand up to the trucking companies. We will fight for your rights, whether that means negotiating a full and fair settlement or taking the matter to trial. We are on your side.
Call us today to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation and tell us your story. The Carolina Law Group has four offices in South Carolina for your convenience: Greenville (principal office; call 864.312.4444), Greer (principal office; call 864.757.5555), Spartanburg (principal office; call 864.312.4444) & West Columbia (principal office; call 803.881.1110).
Call us at one of our four offices or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with one of our attorneys. Our business hours are Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 5:30pm & Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm. Weekend and evening hours by appointment only. Our Greenville, SC law firm offers Spanish, Hindi, and Gujarati language translation services for your convenience.