Each year, over 5,000 semi-trucks are involved in fatal accidents. Unfortunately, these numbers continue rising annually, indicating how deadly truck crashes can be.
But why are truck accidents often fatal? These crashes can often result in death or injury due to a few different factors. Let’s discuss each one and the deadly reality of truck accidents in the U.S.
Trucks Get Deadly When Weight and Speed Coexist
Trucks weigh more, have longer stopping times, and have longer profiles when compared to passenger vehicles. In addition, many truckers have routes that take them down highways with higher speed limits. Science has taught us that the faster vehicles move, the more deadly the accident will be.
Add weight to the mix, and there’s a real problem. A truck weighs between 10,000 pounds minimum and 80,000 pounds maximum when fully loaded. Cars come in at around 4,000 pounds. It is extremely dangerous for a truck to collide with a car because of this difference in weight.
A truck also has larger wheels and tires than a typical car. Likewise, trucks have more extended cabins and beds. So, if you’re driving an ordinary car and colliding head-on with a truck, the likelihood of your survival isn’t high.
It’s important to note that truck drivers are also at risk of dying in these types of crashes. A recent example is a 2022 California crash on I-5 in which two big rigs collided head on. Both drivers were killed.
Dangerous Cargo
Another reason truck accidents are so deadly is that trucks often carry dangerous materials. Cargo such as oversized objects and flammables lead to more serious injuries if they are involved in an accident.
Cargo that isn’t properly loaded or secured causes accidents, including rollovers. Other times, injuries are caused by cargo that isn’t properly attached to a truck and detaches. Queue scene from Final Destination.
Unfortunately, this was the case in a 2015 Long Beach accident in which a bicyclist was killed after a cargo container slid off a flatbed truck and fell on him.
Truck Crash Injuries Can End in Disaster
Fortunately, this is rare. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s 2019 report on truck accidents, only one percent include fatalities. But that doesn’t mean truck accidents aren’t disastrous.
This low percentage of deaths can lead people to believe that the devastation isn’t a serious problem. However, accidents involving large trucks have caused hundreds of thousands of injuries.
The victims of these crashes often survive but lose the lives they once knew to catastrophic, life-changing personal injuries.
One-third of significant truck accidents cause physical harm that can include traumatic brain injuries, amputation of limbs, spinal cord injuries, burns, and blunt force trauma.
Is this the case for you? If so, you are not alone.
Premier Truck Accident Lawyers is a firm with 52 years of experience in handling California personal injury cases. Reach out today to speak with an experienced attorney. We will provide you with a free case evaluation if you call toll-free 866-999-9085 or fill out our online form.
Steven Peck
About the Author
For over 40 years Steven Peck's dedication to law has been unyielding. His approach to client representation and care is deeply respected by his colleagues and clients alike. Steven has extensive trial experience, with millions of dollars in damages recovered for clients in lawsuits throughout California.
