An accident involving a big rig truck — especially if it is with a smaller vehicle — will often cause serious and catastrophic injuries. These collisions can be fatal as well. If the crash involves a truck that is carrying hazardous and/or flammable cargo, it can also represent dangers for surrounding vehicles and pedestrians who may not have even been involved in the collision. This article will discuss several important things to keep in mind when it comes to these dangerous incidents.
The first thing to consider following a commercial truck accident is whether the vehicle involved is actually classified as a “commercial truck.” These vehicles, also referred to as big rigs, are utilized to carry and deliver commercial goods. Tanker trucks, eighteen-wheelers, delivery trucks, box trucks and big freight trucks are generally considered to be commercial trucks. The most defining feature of commercial trucks is their size. The law also requires that the operators of commercial drugs have a commercial driver’s license.
Commercial trucks are dangerous because they weight so much. In fact, a fully loaded big rig usually weights about 80,000 pounds, and it could weigh even more. Considering that the average passenger car weighs in at about 3,000 pounds, it is easy to see why a collision between these two types of automobiles spells disaster.
Due to the inherent dangers of commercial truck collisions, there are a number of safety laws that apply to these trucks, their drivers and the companies that own and operate them. When a big rig driver and/or transportation company causes a collision due to negligence, failure to follow safety laws, recklessness or unlawful behavior, injured parties may be able to seek financial claims relating to their injuries and property damages in civil court.
Source: FindLaw, “Truck Accidents FAQ,” accessed July 19, 2016