If you are driving your car and collide with a tractor trailer truck, guess what? The big rig is going to win. Eighteen wheelers weigh between 25,000 and 80,000 pounds, depending upon their load, and your car weighs between 4,000 to 5,000 pounds–unless you are driving a Mitsubishi Mirage or a similar vehicle, which weighs approximately 2,000 to 3,000 pounds. In any case, you will be at a clear disadvantage in a smaller vehicle. The bigger the rig, the harder it is to stop, and your car will absorb the power of the impact.
The latest FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) data is from 2022. That year they reported approximately 503,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks, with 5,279 fatal crashes and 114,000 injury crashes. The majority (82 percent) of fatalities were not occupants of the trucks.
According to that same report, injuries and fatalities from truck/car crashes have been on the rise over the last decade.
If you or a family member are unlucky enough to be in a collision with a large truck there are several points to keep in mind.
First things first:
- Call 911.
- Get medical attention! Often adrenaline will mask injuries until hours or days later. Also, early documentation will protect your claim.
- If possible, take photos with your phone. Take photos and video of vehicle damage, skid marks, and debris.
- Get the names of witnesses.
- Get the truck driver’s name, license number, Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) number, and insurance details.
- Obtain the name, address, and DOT number (usually on the truck door or trailer) for the trucking company. Take a photo.
- You may be contacted by the trucking company’s insurance representative within hours – do not give a recorded statement.
- Do not post anything on social media about your collision.
Next – Call an experienced attorney:
- Truck accidents are different from regular auto collisions. With a truck several entities may be involved – the driver, the trucking company, cargo loading companies, maintenance contractors, insurance companies, and perhaps even the manufacturer of the truck. You need someone on your side.
- Truck companies have their own insurance agencies, investigators and often attorneys – and they are all out to protect company interests. An attorney will protect yours.
- An attorney will work to obtain and preserve evidence, such as black box/ECM data, dash-cam footage, GPS and electronic logging device (ELD) records, Inspection and maintenance logs, driver qualification and training files and dispatch communications.
- Big trucks must adhere to federal and state regulations, such as hours a driver is allowed to work, weight limits, maintenance and inspection requirements, and driver training. If your attorney finds violations, it can strengthen your claim.
- Due to the size and weight disparity, semi-truck accidents often result in severe, catastrophic injuries, which generally lead to higher settlements than standard car accidents. Typical big truck insurance limits in Nebraska for interstate commercial vehicles over 10,001 pounds generally require a minimum of $750,000 in primary auto liability coverage. For hazardous materials, this requirement increases to $5,000,000. An attorney will make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.
- You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering and permanent injury or disability. Wrongful death may result in damages for surviving family members.
Big rig/auto collisions are different from ordinary auto collisions because of the severity of the hit, and the complexity of the claim. If you are in a collision with a truck and you are not at fault, call Putnam Law today.
