Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Charlotte Injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “What happens if I still owe money on the vehicle but the insurance company classifies it as a “total loss”?
Semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and tractor-trailers are all names for large, commercial trucks.
Truck accidents are becoming more and more common. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), there were more than 5,000 large trucks involved in fatal accidents in the United States in 2019. This is an increase of 43% since 2010. Truck accidents are much more likely to cause severe injuries or fatalities than crashes that occur between passenger vehicles. Trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds and will cause considerable injuries and damage to property.
Truck Accidents are Different From Other Kinds of Accidents
Semi-trucks are large and heavy, which makes them difficult to control on the road. It takes a lot longer for a large truck to come to a stop than it does for a typical passenger car. Trucks are tall and the driver often has poor visibility of nearby vehicles. There are some blind spots, even with mirrors in place. Large commercial trucks carry loads that can shift during transport. This shifting weight can cause the rig to become uncontrollable and jackknife or roll over. The loads being transported can also be dangerous or hazardous. If you get into an accident with a truck carrying a toxic load it can leak or spill, causing the potential for physical harm.
Causes of Truck Accidents
There are many things that can directly cause or contribute to truck crashes. Usually, truck accidents are complex and involve several or more factors. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) completed a study in which they categorized the factors that cause truck accidents.
The FMCSA classifies three major categories of causes, including human factors, vehicle factors, and environmental factors. Human or driver factors are the most common. They include such things as making poor decisions, failing to act, and performance issues. Vehicle factors may include such things as improper maintenance and inspection. Some of the most common vehicle problems include brake malfunctions and tire problems. Environmental factors may include ice or snow, rain, or bright sun.
Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents
Accidents that involve trucks are more likely to cause severe injuries or fatalities. Truck accidents can cause injuries such as head trauma, broken bones, crush injuries, back or spinal cord injuries, lacerations, and contusions. Truck accidents can occur at high rates of speed and therefore the injuries can occur quickly. Some injuries are more serious than others.
For instance, head trauma can lead to a traumatic brain injury, which could require months or years of rehabilitation. Some injuries caused by truck accidents are life-threatening, and some victims end up with disabilities. The immediate and long-term impact of truck accidents can leave families in emotional turmoil and financial despair.
If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident, do not delay. Contact our experienced legal team to assist you in getting the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Call Arnold & Smith, PLLC today for an initial consultation to discuss your case. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, we are here to help you get the money you deserve for your injuries. Call (704) 370-2828 to receive a video, phone or in-person consultation with our lawyers to explore your legal options or fill out our contact form. Now taking cases throughout North Carolina with offices in Uptown Charlotte, Mooresville and Monroe.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/road-users/large-trucks/
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/trucking-in-snow-1357665
See Our Related Video from our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArnoldSmithPLLC/videos
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