Why Truck Accidents are More Severe Than Car Accidents

Each year, roughly 494,000 crashes involve large trucks. Although federal regulations restrict how many hours a truck driver can travel daily and weekly, accidents still do occur. A large truck accident can lead to severe injuries, impacting your ability to function in daily life. Medical expenses and other accident-related costs can add up quickly, making it seemingly impossible to keep up with rent and utility bills.

At Bednarz & Bednarz, our Nashville truck accident attorneys are committed to advocating for maximum compensation on your behalf. Providing representation to individuals for over 30 years, our legal team will investigate your case to determine who is responsible for your injuries.

Commercial Trucks Pose Serious Hazards

A fully laden truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, weighing 20 to 30 times more than a normal passenger vehicle. This creates an issue when a large truck attempts to stop in dense traffic. In fact, a fully laden tractor-trailer traveling at normal highway speeds can take the distance of two football fields to completely stop.

Other hazards that tractor-trailer trucks present:

• The sheer mass of a commercial truck significantly increases your risk of severe injury or death.
• A commercial truck generates winds that can push smaller vehicles into other lanes.
• Commercial trucks have a higher center of gravity (standard height being 13 feet, 6 inches), which makes it more likely they will roll over on curves and ramps.
• The height, width, and weight of a commercial truck make it more difficult to maneuver tight turns, accelerate on steep inclines, and brake going downhill.
• Commercial trucks have large blind spots, which can make it more difficult for drivers to see smaller vehicles.

Serious Hazards Mean Serious Injuries

A collision with a semi-truck is often life-altering, likely to cause long-term damage. Large truck accidents often result in serious and catastrophic injuries, some of which include:

• Traumatic brain injuries: Any strike or blow to the brain can disrupt normal brain damage, which may have long-term effects. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headaches, loss of consciousness, and mood changes.
• Spinal cord injuries: The impact with a large truck can result in the spinal cord absorbing most of the force. This results in spinal cord damage,e which can present as numbness, tingling, or difficulty with movement.
• Traumatic amputations: The sudden and unexpected loss of a body part can be partial or total. Common traumatic amputations include the loss of a finger, toe, arm, or leg. Traumatic amputations remain one of the most psychologically devastating injuries.
• Chest injuries: Impact to the chest can result in broken ribs, lung bruising, a collapsed lung, and heart damage. Chest injuries are often caused by contact with the steering wheel, airbag, or flying debris.
• Burns: A ruptured gas tank or damaged fuel line can spark a fire, resulting in severe burns. Symptoms may present as white or leathery skin, swelling, and difficulty breathing. Someone with full-thickness burns is also likely to suffer nerve damage.

Longer Recovery Period and Greater Damages

Perhaps the most notable difference in a truck accident is the amount of time it takes injured parties to heal. In some cases, the victim may experience long-term effects or permanent disability. These individuals have to adjust to new habits based on their physical limitations.

The recovery process is often ongoing, with injured persons having to undergo revision surgeries as they age. Many individuals attend physical therapy, working to regain strength and mobility. During this process, injured individuals may be unable to work or forced to work a reduced schedule.

Home modifications that were made right after a person’s accident will need to continually be updated as the individual’s condition deteriorates (which is inevitable as we age). Common modifications include wheelchair ramps, grab bars in the shower, and widening doorways. While necessary, these costs can place a dent in your bank account. Understandably, this financial burden can lead to further psychological distress.

Establishing Liability

At Bednarz & Bednarz, our Nashville truck accident lawyers want you to obtain the financial resources you need. A large part of that recovery is establishing which party or parties are liable. In many truck accidents, multiple parties may be at fault. Understanding who is responsible for your injuries is the first step in obtaining compensation. According to Tennessee law, you can still recover damages if you are found partially at fault, as long as you are found less than 50% liable. The insurance company is sure to inflate your liability, which is why you need our experienced legal team by your side.

Contact Our Nashville Truck Accident Attorneys

Simply exchanging insurance information after a truck accident is not enough to protect your rights. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck collision, the legal team at Bednarz & Bednarz would like to speak with you. Our Nashville truck accident lawyers know what is involved in thoroughly investigating your crash. Our experience negotiating with insurance means that you will walk away with the compensation you deserve. To arrange your free consultation, contact us online or by calling (615) 623-8789.