Both car and truck accidents can leave individuals with severe injuries and tremendous medical bills. Both of these wrecks can occur due to negligence on the part of a driver or other factors like defective parts. However, they have key differences that can affect your legal claim.
A truck accident lawyer at McCoy & Hiestand can provide information on how truck accidents are different than car accidents. Generally, truck accidents cause more damage, result in more injuries, and lead to more deaths.
Find out more about these facts by calling or filling out our online contact form.
How Do Truck Accidents Differ From Car Accidents?
Generally, truck accidents in Kentucky lead to more extensive injuries and property damage. This issue stems from commercial trucks being heavier and larger than personal vehicles.
Their size means they generate greater momentum when in operation, bringing more force to bear in the event of an accident.
Due to the greater damage caused by truck accidents, recovery tends to be more expensive. Therefore, you may require a higher settlement or court verdict to recover from your financial losses after a truck wreck in Kentucky.
Why Are Truck Accidents in Kentucky So Serious?
Severity plays a role when we discuss how truck accidents are different than car accidents. Truck accidents are often severe due to the incredible size of the commercial truck.
The U.S. Department of Transportation allows trucks weighing up to 80,000 to use the interstate highway system. These trucks can be dozens of feet tall and incredibly long, especially if the trucker is hauling multiple trailers.
Commercial trucks may also carry hazardous materials, which can increase the risks associated with an accident. Finally, their size means they can cause some unique accidents, like jackknife or underride wrecks in Kentucky.
Is a Truck Safer Than a Car in a Kentucky Crash?
Individuals in cars generally experience more injuries than truckers in accidents. For example, the National Safety Council (NSC) reported that 71% of injuries in truck accidents in 2021 involved occupants of other vehicles.
Trucks generally fare better in:
- Rear-end truck accidents
- Head-on truck accidents
- Sideswipe truck accidents
- T-bone (or side impact) accidents
- Underride truck accidents
- Rollover truck accidents
The truck’s size can protect a trucker during an accident, cushioning them from the force of the impact. However, over 1,000 truckers still sustained injuries during accidents in 2021, showing how dangerous these collisions can become.
Do Trucks Cause More Accidents Than Cars?
We can focus on levels of danger on the road when considering how truck accidents are different than car accidents. Over five million crashes occurred in the U.S. in 2020. During the same period, the government reported around 415,000 truck wrecks.
However, trucks make up only around 5% of the vehicles on the road around the country, while getting involved in around 8.3% of all accidents around the country. Therefore, they have a significant tendency to cause wrecks.
Truckers may end up causing more accidents due to the following:
- Difficulties handling their tall, heavy, and long vehicle
- Issues with the blindspots on the truck
- The requirement to make wider turns
- Their larger stopping distance
Your truck accident lawyer can determine the cause of your specific accident and take your needs seriously.
Is Fault Different for Truck and Car Accidents in Kentucky?
Liability plays a significant role in the differences between truck and car accidents. Generally, in car accident cases, lawyers look at each driver’s actions to determine liability.
In Kentucky truck accident claims a lawyer may pursue a claim against the trucking company instead of the truck operator. Companies may be liable for accidents if the wreck occurred during work hours or due to mistakes on the company’s part.
For example, a lawyer may pursue a claim against the company if the business fails to perform necessary maintenance, resulting in a collision. In addition, lawyers may file claims against manufacturers for accidents caused by defective vehicle parts for car and truck wrecks.
Is Evidence Different for Truck and Car Wrecks in Kentucky?
Generally, lawyers have more evidence to collect after a truck accident in Kentucky. A legal team may focus on photos, witness testimony, and physical clues after any collision.
When the wreck involves a commercial truck, lawyers may pull evidence from:
- The “black box” data from the truck
- The truck’s electronic logging devices (ELDs)
- Hours-of-service logs kept by the trucker
- Manifests for the truck’s cargo
- Maintenance reports from the trucking company
- Screening and hiring records from the company
All of this information may allow a lawyer to show that a trucker or trucking company caused the collision in Kentucky.
What Should You Do After a Car or Truck Accident in Kentucky?
Truck accidents are different than car accidents in many ways. However, we recommend taking many of the same steps in the aftermath of a collision. First, make sure you contact the police to report the crash.
You should also seek medical care for any injuries you sustained in the collision. Additionally, professionals generally recommend that you contact a car or truck accident lawyer for help building a legal claim and seeking funds to cover your expenses.
A lawyer can help you review your first steps after a truck or car accident.
Talk to Us After a Truck or Car Wreck in Kentucky
Are you wondering how truck accidents are different than car accidents? Our team at McCoy & Hiestand can answer all your questions about these wrecks and provide you with detailed legal advice as you seek compensation for all your losses.
You can take proactive steps after any kind of collision by calling or filling out our online contact form.
