Accidents involving 18-wheelers carry complex legal implications and are governed by strict safety regulations. For accident victims and their families, understanding the unique dangers and legal complexities of 18-wheeler wrecks is crucial. This article explains why 18-wheeler wrecks are so devastating, the common causes, types of injuries, and what victims can do after a crash. The topic matters due to the severe consequences and complex legal issues involved, which can impact victims’ lives physically, emotionally, and financially.
18-wheeler accidents are a significant concern on American roads. Large trucks carry more freight by weight than all other transportation modes combined. Without semitrucks, delivery vans, and other commercial motor vehicles, the American economy would grind to a halt. However, there is a tradeoff. An 18-wheeler can injure road users, destroy property, and pollute the environment in a truck accident. After a collision, a trucking accident lawyer fights trucking companies as well as their insurers and sureties for fair injury compensation.
The Dangers of 18 Wheeler Wrecks
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the U.S. has fewer truck accidents than auto accidents. However, trucks are 20% to 55% more likely to be involved in a fatal accident by vehicle miles traveled. In other words, for every mile a vehicle is on the road, a semi is up to 55% more likely to kill someone than a car.
This phenomenon occurs for several reasons.
Truck Stopping Distance and Lack of Maneuverability
Stopping distance is the distance traveled from the time the driver perceives a hazard until the vehicle stops moving. An automobile driver and a truck driver have the same perception and reaction times. Because of their training, truck drivers might even react more quickly than auto drivers.
However, the time to stop the vehicle depends heavily on its weight and braking system. Trucks use pneumatic brakes, which take longer to pressurize than a car's hydraulic brakes. Once the brakes engage, a heavier truck requires more distance to stop than a lighter car.
Using concrete numbers, a semitruck traveling 65 miles per hour requires 525 feet to stop. By contrast, a car traveling at the same speed requires only 316 feet. Thus, autos can avoid crashes that trucks cannot.
Moreover, when a collision occurs, a truck will collide at a higher speed than an automobile since it cannot brake as quickly over the same distance.
Trucks are also less maneuverable than automobiles. A semitruck's 18-foot turning radius is double that of a typical passenger vehicle. Thus, a semi often cannot maneuver around a hazard, such as a braking vehicle.
Size and Weight: Why Semi Truck 18-Wheelers Cause More Severe Damage
Size and weight do more than increase turning radius and braking distance. They also translate into more crash energy. An 18-wheeler, also known as a commercial truck, can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. An 18-wheeler weighs 20 to 40 times more than an automobile, giving it 20 to 40 times more energy at the same speed.
In a collision, most crash energy goes into bending metal, twisting plastic, and destroying body tissues. Since trucks are built using sturdier materials, this energy goes into mangling the passenger vehicle, not the truck.
Also, the truck's height and weight protect its driver. According to the National Safety Council, passenger vehicle occupants experience 70% of the fatalities and 73% of the injuries in truck crashes. By contrast, truck drivers only account for 19% of deaths and 26% of injuries.
The Impact of Cargo and Load on an 18-Wheeler Crash
A fully loaded semitruck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds without an overweight permit. Cargo weight increases the stopping distance and crash energy. It can also contribute to crashes by shifting or falling during transport.
Hazardous loads can also worsen the outcome of a crash. Toxic or flammable substances can ignite or poison crash victims when released.
Driver Fatigue and Errors: Contributing Factors in 18-Wheeler Accidents
A commercial trucking company is required to follow federal rules that limit driving time. These rules are enforced using electronic logging devices. However, drivers and companies sometimes skirt the rules, putting profits ahead of safety.
Fatigued drivers are less alert and have slower reactions. They may also be tempted to use drugs to keep themselves awake. In either case, these drivers make mistakes that can lead to collisions. In fact, eighty-eight percent of 18-wheeler collisions are caused by driver or human error.
Increased Risk of Rollovers and Jackknife Accidents
Semitrucks have a much higher risk of rollover accidents due to their height. This risk increases if the truck is improperly loaded with a high center of gravity. A careless driver can also increase the risk of rolling over by speeding, turning too sharply, or running off the road.
A rollover crash is potentially deadly because the trailer can tip in front of or on top of cars in an adjacent lane.
Jackknife accidents occur when the angle between the tractor and trailer is so small that the driver cannot control the trailer. These crashes are dangerous because they can block multiple lanes of traffic, causing collisions and chain reaction accidents.
Understanding these dangers helps explain the types of injuries that can result from such crashes.
Main Legal and Regulatory Factors in 18-Wheeler Wrecks
18-wheeler accidents are subject to a complex web of legal and regulatory requirements. Key factors include:
- FMCSA Safety Rules: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets strict safety standards for commercial trucks and drivers.
- Hours of Service Regulations: These rules dictate how long a driver can operate a vehicle before mandatory rest periods, reducing fatigue-related accidents.
- Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing: Truck drivers must undergo drug and alcohol testing pre-employment, randomly, and after certain accidents.
- Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Requirements: Drivers must possess a valid CDL and pass regular physical exams.
- Cargo Loading and Securement: Regulations govern how cargo is loaded, distributed, and secured to prevent shifting or falling loads.
- Regular Inspections and Maintenance: Trucking companies are legally required to perform and document regular inspections and repairs.
- Vicarious Liability: Trucking companies can be held responsible for their employees’ negligence.
- Negligence Per Se: If a trucking company breaks FMCSA safety rules, it can be automatically considered negligent.
- Multiple Parties May Be Liable: Liability can extend to the trucking company, driver, cargo loaders, maintenance providers, and others.
These legal and regulatory factors make 18-wheeler wrecks especially complex for accident victims and their families.
Common Injuries in Crashes Involving 18-Wheelers
Crashes involving 18-wheelers often result in catastrophic injuries due to the immense forces involved.
Types of Injuries
Some injuries that can happen in a semitruck accident include the following:
- Burns, including chemical burns from hazardous substances
- Fractured bones
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Amputation
Long-Term Consequences
These injuries might require hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical treatment and disable victims permanently.
Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the top causes of heavy truck accidents are brake failure, speeding, and unfamiliarity with roads, and large trucks accounted for 9% of all fatal vehicle accidents in 2021. These factors also contribute to many semi truck crashes. In 2021:
- 5,788 people died in large truck crashes, including many harmed in a semi truck accident.
- 117,300 large trucks were involved in injury-causing crashes.
Understanding the causes of 18-wheeler accidents is essential for determining liability and seeking compensation.
Why Do I Need a Semi Truck Accident Attorney After a Crash?
Trucking companies must carry large insurance policies and surety bonds to pay for losses after collisions, so a semi truck accident claim often turns on having a lawyer who can deal with those insurers. However, these companies will fight to avoid paying claims. A lawyer can stand up to these powerful companies, gathering and submitting evidence after a serious commercial-vehicle crash to prove the trucking company's liability for the crash.
Having legal representation is crucial due to the complex regulations and multiple parties that may be involved in 18-wheeler wrecks.
What Compensation Can I Seek for 18-Wheeler Accident Injuries?
You can seek compensation for your economic losses, such as medical costs and lost wages. You can also recover compensation for non-economic losses, including pain and suffering.
Knowing your rights and the types of compensation available can help you make informed decisions after a crash.
Contact Us After a Devastating 18-Wheeler Crash
You may face significant financial losses and physical disabilities after a truck accident involving a semi truck. Ramsey Law Group has over 25 years of experience fighting powerful trucking companies for fair compensation. Contact us to learn how we can help you.
