The Difference Between a Truck Accident and a Car Accident
There are so many different variables that come into play when we start to talk about accidents. But in this article, we want to break down the difference between a truck accident and a car accident. And yes, there are some major differences between the two. If you were an unfortunate victim of one of these accidents, it’s good to know how the legal process will play out so that you can be prepared to fight for the compensation that you deserve.
Truck Accidents Tend To Be More Severe
We will start out by talking about the severity of these accidents. It goes without saying that most truck accidents are much more brutal in nature. The impact of a semi-truck is much greater than that of a car. Not only does this cause a great amount of damage to the vehicles involved, but it also tends to cause major injuries that are often permanent or long-lasting.
Going Up Against A Trucking Company
This one here is probably the biggest difference when we talk about truck accidents vs. car accidents. When a semi-truck is involved, the lawsuit involves the trucking company. Since Oregon truck accident law allows you to sue more than one entity in a single accident, you could have a case against the driver and the truck company.
When your claim is against the trucking company, you will be dealing with a very aggressive insurance company (and their lawyers). These are highly trained lawyers who represent the trucking company. Their goal is to avoid paying out large settlements with these accidents. This is a top reason why it’s so essential to have a personal injury attorney on your side who knows how to level the playing field with these trucking companies.
Understanding The Causes
Another big difference between a truck and a car accident is figuring out the cause of the accident. Truck accidents tend to be caused by a different set of circumstances. Car accidents usually occur due to human error (didn’t stop properly, distracted, speeding, etc.). Truck accidents often occur because of the sheer size of these trucks. It is much more difficult to stop quickly or make proper turns.
Equipment failure is another common issue with truck accidents. The truck company and the driver are responsible for maintaining different check-ups on the truck. If these check-ups are neglected, a malfunction can occur. Or, it could be a manufacturer defect; this would lead to a lawsuit with the manufacturer of the truck.
An experienced personal injury attorney will know how to properly investigate the cause of a truck accident. This includes the analysis of trucking logs, safety records from the company, the driver’s records and related training/licenses, and more. The process of gathering information and evidence is much more cumbersome with a truck accident in comparison to a car accident.
A Major Difference In The Complexities Of These Cases
When it comes down to it, truck accidents are much more complex than car accidents. That’s not to say that car accidents do not come with their challenges; but truck accidents usually involve greater damages with multiple parties involved (the trucking company, the truck driver, and sometimes multiple insurance companies).
Figuring out economic damages (medical care, loss of earnings, etc.), non-economic damages (pain and suffering), and punitive damages (when a trucking company acts in bad faith) can be very challenging in trucking accidents. Again, this is why it’s so important to have a personal injury attorney in your corner to help you through this often-complicated legal process.
Contact a Committed Truck Accident Attorney Today!
If you were the victim of a truck accident here in the state of Oregon, contact us today for a free case evaluation. You can also reach us directly at: 1-800-285-8678. Our team of highly skilled personal injury attorneys will ensure that your truck accident case receives the kind of expert support and guidance that is needed to help you receive the compensation that you deserve.