Big rig accidents, also known as semi-truck or 18-wheeler accidents, are some of the most dangerous crashes on the road. When a fully loaded 80,000-pound tractor-trailer is involved in a collision, the injuries sustained are often catastrophic or fatal. There are several reasons why big rig crashes lead to more deaths than other types of accidents.
Size and Weight Difference
The average passenger car weighs a fraction of what a truck weighs. This huge disparity in size and weight means the occupants of the passenger vehicle are at an extreme disadvantage in a collision. The massive force generated in a semi-truck impact can easily crush smaller vehicles and cause life-threatening injuries to their occupants.
Lack of Stability
The high center of gravity in a semi-truck, especially when fully loaded, makes them more prone to rollovers. When a big rig rolls over, it often leads to deadly ejections of either the truck driver or other motorists if the trailer lands on another vehicle. Rollover crashes account for over a quarter of all fatal big rig accidents.
Driver Fatigue
Truck drivers are often under pressure to meet tight delivery schedules, leading many to drive over their federally mandated hours-of-service limit. Drowsy or fatigued driving impairs reaction time and judgment, increasing the likelihood of the truck driver causing a serious crash. The National Transportation Safety Board estimates fatigue contributes to 30-40% of all big rig accidents.
Limited Visibility
Semi-trucks have much larger blind spots compared to passenger vehicles due to their size and shape. This includes the blind spots right in front of the cab that can obscure smaller vehicles. Failure to properly check blind spots and improper merging/lane changes leads to many sideswipe or underride collisions.
Higher Speeds
While cars typically travel at speeds of 60-75 mph on highways, semi-trucks often go 5-10 mph faster due to metrics and delivery deadlines trucking companies place on their drivers. Higher speeds give truck drivers less time to react and lead to more severe crashes if an impact occurs.
Dangerous Cargo
Semi-trucks that are transporting hazardous materials, flammable liquids, or chemicals pose additional risks if they are involved in an accident. Exposure to toxic fumes or explosions/fires from certain cargo can lead to more serious injuries or fatalities at a crash scene.
Lack of Safety Features
Passenger vehicles are now required to have airbags, seat belts, crush zones and other safety features to protect occupants in a crash. But there are still limited safety regulations governing commercial trucks. Missing basic features like seat belts or rollover protection puts truck drivers at greater risk of being killed in an accident.
Complex Litigation
The complex web of insurance, regulations, and shipping companies involved in the trucking industry often make it difficult for injured victims or families of deceased victims to receive proper restitution after a crash. Navigating the legal system is challenging without an experienced truck accident attorney like us.
The massive size disparity between semi-trucks and passenger vehicles along with other truck-specific risk factors create perfect conditions for catastrophic injuries and fatalities when large truck accidents occur. Always use extreme caution when sharing the road with 18-wheelers and other commercial vehicles to avoid a deadly encounter. And if you are involved in a big rig accident, contact us.
You can visit our office at 536 Pacific Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133.
Call now for a free consultation on (415) 352-6264.