Why is a traffic accident involving a commercial truck more likely to cause injury than one involving passenger cars?

A typical fully-loaded large commercial truck can weigh 80,000 pounds or more, while an average passenger automobile weighs approximately 3,000 pounds. Due to this size disparity, and the basic laws of physics, any collision between a commercial truck and another vehicle is likely to result in serious, even fatal injuries.

Injuries That Result From Crashes With Commercial Trucks

When a passenger car collides with a semi-truck, the injuries sustained by the occupants of the car are often permanent and life-threatening. In most cases, the driver of the truck is not even injured. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the nearly 4,000 fatalities resulting from truck crashes in 2014, 73 percent were occupants of other vehicles and 17 percent were occupants of large trucks. Clearly, the risk is much greater to the occupants of cars. Other potentially serious injuries include:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Paralysis
  • Amputations
  • Back and neck injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Internal injuries
  • Cuts and lacerations

Keller & Keller Can Help

If you suffered serious injuries in a collision with a commercial truck, contact our experienced Indianapolis truck accident attorney team. Call (800) 253-5337.

 

James R. Keller
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Partner at Keller & Keller