Oh my goodness, truck accidents are no joke! I was shocked when I learned from TopVerdict.com that in 2021, four of top 10 biggest personal injury settlements were from truck accidents. If you or someone you love has been victim of truck accident, I want to help you understand what to do.
Truck Accidents Happen All The Time!
Let me tell you something scary – Texas Department of Transportation says there were 38,149 crashes with commercial trucks in just one year (2021)! When I saw this number, I couldn’t believe my eyes. So many families affected…
Why Truck Accidents Are Not Like Normal Car Accidents
I learned this hard way – truck accident cases are completely different from regular car accidents. Here is why:
Truck Drivers Follow Different Rules
First thing you must know, truck drivers have special rules they must follow. Why? Because:
- These trucks are HUGE! They have different height, weight, take longer to stop, need more space to turn, and have many more wheels
- Truck drivers need special license called CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) and lots of training
- Every time before driving, truck driver must check everything – brakes, axles, all systems. When was last time you checked all parts of your car before driving to store? Probably never!
Injuries Are Much Worse in Truck Accidents
My cousin was in accident with truck last year. Big trucks can weigh 30 times more than your car! This is why injuries are usually much more serious:
- Brain injuries that change your whole life
- Back problems that never go away
- Neck pain that stays for years
- Damage to spinal cord (sometimes can’t walk again)
- Many broken bones
Why Do These Terrible Accidents Happen?
Many reasons trucks crash, but most common ones I see:
- Driver too tired (they drive very long hours)
- Looking at phone instead of road
- Going too fast (big truck cannot stop quickly!)
- Truck has blind spots where driver cannot see you
- Old trucks with bad maintenance
- Brakes or tires fail
- Rain or snow make roads slippery
- Bad roads with potholes
- Wide turns that hit cars in next lane
- Sometimes driver drink alcohol (very dangerous!)
- Following too close behind other cars
- Trailer swings sideways (jackknife)
- Driver doesn’t know the road
- Some drivers very aggressive
Also, the stuff they carry can cause problems if:
- Not tied down properly
- Too much weight
- All weight on top makes truck unstable
- Load moves during travel
- Things fall off truck onto road
How to Show Truck Driver Was Responsible
For getting money after accident, you must show truck driver did something wrong. Two main steps:
- Show what rules truck driver should follow
- Prove driver broke these rules and caused accident
Where To Find These Truck Rules
You can find these special truck rules in:
- Handbook they give to drivers
- Company rule book
- How company actually trains drivers
- Training videos and materials
- Big book of federal rules called FMCSA (very thick book!)
Evidence You Need to Win Your Case
I was surprised how much evidence exists in truck cases! You need:
- Police report (very important!)
- People who saw accident
- Video from truck dashboard
- Special computer in truck that records everything
- Electronic logs that show how long driver was on road
- Records showing where truck went
- Driver’s work hours
- Papers showing truck maintenance
- Driver’s training records
- Driver’s work history
- Even cell phone records sometimes
Who Must Pay After Truck Accident?
This is tricky part – many people might have to pay, not just driver:
The Truck Driver
Of course driver might be responsible if he broke rules or drove carelessly
The Trucking Company
Many don’t know this, but company who owns truck is usually MORE responsible! They:
- Must hire good drivers (not people with bad driving history)
- Must train drivers properly
- Must check if drivers follow all safety rules
Other People Who Might Have to Pay
- Companies who loaded the cargo
- Company who made truck if something broke
- Sometimes even government if road was dangerous
How Much Money Can You Get?
Every case different, depends on how badly you hurt. But good news – trucks must have big insurance! Federal law says trucks must have at least $1 million insurance coverage. My friend got settlement that paid all medical bills plus extra for pain he suffered.
What To Do If Truck Hits You
If terrible accident happens, do these things:
- Get police report! – Without this paper, very difficult to prove what happened
- Go to doctor right away – Even if you feel okay, some injuries show up later. If you wait, insurance company will say, “If you really hurt, why you wait so long?”
- Take many pictures – Your car damage, truck damage, the road, any skid marks, everything!
- Talk to witnesses – Get phone numbers from anyone who saw what happened
- Call lawyer who knows truck accidents – Not any lawyer, but one who handles truck cases before
My Final Thoughts
I write this because I want to help people who suffer after truck accidents. These are not normal accidents – they change lives forever. Big truck companies have teams of lawyers to protect them. You need someone on your side too.
Remember, four of top ten biggest settlements came from truck accidents. This shows how serious these cases can be. If this happened to you or someone you love, don’t face this alone. There is help available.
Stay safe on roads, my friends!
