Why are Big Rig Accidents More Likely to Cause Injury than Ones Involving Passenger Cars?

Truck accidents which involve big rigs or large commercial trucks tend to result in serious injury or fatalities and are far more dangerous compared to automobile accidents. If you or a loved one has been a victim of such an accident, using the services of a big rig accident attorney can make the difference in fighting the law and securing proper compensation. But why are these crashes more hazardous injuries than those from car crashes?

Key Reasons Why Truck Accidents are Most Dangerous than Passenger Cars

1. Difference in Size and Weight

Arguably the most persuasive argument for why big rig accidents are so much more destructive is the enormous size and weight difference between commercial trucks over passenger vehicles. An 80,000-pound loaded semi-truck is far heavier than the average car at around 3,000–4,000 pounds. When these two meet, the immense amount of force created by a big rig can easily destroy a smaller vehicle, leaving its occupants with life-changing injuries.

Even in slower-speed collisions, the mass of a semi-truck multiply the force of impact, so it is more probable that a car will be totalled and its occupants severely injured.

2. Greater Stopping Distances

Large trucks require a great deal more time and distance to come to a complete stop than passenger vehicles. On average, a 65 mph semi-truck requires approximately 525 feet to stop—nearly the length of two football fields. A 65 mph car must travel approximately 316 feet to stop.

If a truck driver fails to brake on time due to distraction, poor roads, or mechanical issues, the result can be devastating. Large truck rear-end collisions typically leave damaged cars, spinal cord injuries, and fatalities.

3. High Center of Gravity and Rollover Risk

Tractor-trailers have a high centre of gravity and are therefore more susceptible to rollover, especially when they turn sharply, swerve lanes, or travel in windy conditions. Truck rollover accidents tend to cause multi-vehicle pileups, doubling the victims as well as the severity of injury.

Passenger vehicles involved in a truck rollover accident can become trapped under the trailer, crushed, or struck violently by airborne debris.

4. Cargo hazards

The majority of big trucks transport hazardous materials, oversized loads, or improperly secured loads, which contributes to the risk in case of an accident. In the case of a crash by a truck carrying flammable fuels, poisonous chemicals, or heavy industrial equipment, the damages may include fires, explosions, and contamination of the environment.

Even non-hazardous goods may contribute to accidents if improperly loaded. Cargo shifting inside the trailer can cause a truck to become unbalanced and be engaged in jackknife crashes or rollover accidents.

5. Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service Violations

Truck drivers generally work on close schedules, and some drive past federally regulated driving hours set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Despite rules dictating rest stops and daily driving limits, some drivers under pressure from their employers will drive for long periods of time, leading to driver fatigue crashes.

Fatigue slows down reaction times and blunts judgment, increasing the risk that a truck driver will not respond appropriately to changes in traffic flow, hazards, or sudden stops. Studies have shown that driving while drowsy is as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol, significantly increasing the risk of accidents.

6. Limited Maneuverability and Blind Spots

Long combinations have broader blind spots—loosely known as "No-Zones"—all around the truck cab. Car-like vehicles within those blind spots are in a higher risk of being clipped or pinned when a truck broadsides across lanes or employs a sweeping wide turn in making a change of direction.

Second, trucks lack the maneuverability to swiftly deflect road danger, abrupt stops, or inconsiderate drivers. A jackknifed or overturned truck will be just as likely as a nonswerving truck to put multiple automobiles in danger.

7. Excessive Injury Capability

Due to the tremendous force of impact, large truck accidents tend to produce catastrophic injuries such as:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

• Spinal Cord Injury and Paralysis.

• Severe Burn and Amputations.

• Internal Organ Injury.

• Multiple Fractures and Crushing Injuries.

Truck accident victims typically experience prolonged medical procedures, rehabilitation, and permanent disabilities that significantly alter their lifestyle.

Seeking Legal Help Following a Big Rig Collision

Because of the severity of injuries and legal complexities that go into truck accidents, the victims must retain legal counsel as early as possible. A lawyer for a semi accident can help investigate the wreck, determine fault, and fight for compensation of medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and future care.

Truck accident claims often involve multiple parties, including the truck driver, trucking company, manufacturers, and insurance companies. Without expert legal counsel, victims may not be able to receive the maximum compensation they are entitled to.

Wrapping Up

Tractor-trailer collisions are far more dangerous than car accidents due to factors like differences in size, longer stopping times, elevated rollover risk, and driver fatigue. The survivors typically suffer extreme, life-altering injuries requiring extensive medical attention and legal processes. If you or a relative has been injured in a tractor-trailer crash, retaining a skilled big rig accident attorney is essential to protect your rights and secure the settlement you need to recover.