Truck and Car Wreck Differences| Fuller & Fuller, Attorneys at Law

How Is a Truck Accident Different Than a Car Accident?

Although any collision with another vehicle can be physically, emotionally, and financially damaging, accidents involving large commercial trucks are often devastating. In these wrecks, occupants of passenger vehicles frequently suffer more severe injuries, resulting in more complicated personal injury claims.

At Fuller & Fuller, Attorneys at Law, our experienced truck accident attorney has extensive experience in these complex cases. Attorney Marya Fuller is knowledgeable of state and federal trucking regulations and is committed to helping accident victims pursue the full and fair compensation to which they are entitled under the law.

Here are some of the differences between truck and car accidents.

1. Trucks are Much Larger and Heavier Than Cars

Because of their massive size, large commercial semi-trucks are inherently likely to cause more damage in traffic wrecks than smaller passenger vehicles. While the average car weighs about 5,000 pounds, tractor-trailers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds.

These size and weight differences mean that trucks take longer to stop than smaller vehicles, and they also make wider turns. These and other factors must be considered when determining the cause of your crash and the parties responsible for your injuries.

2. Injuries Are Often More Severe in Truck Accidents

Car accidents can result in debilitating, life-altering injuries. However, the risk of sustaining a catastrophic injury in a collision with an 18-wheeler is considerably higher.

Injuries suffered in trucking accidents can include:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Damage to internal organs
  • Broken and fractured bones
  • Amputation injuries

The severe injuries sustained in truck accidents can lead to death. If you lost someone you love because of the negligence of someone else, you may be entitled to damages in a wrongful death claim. While no monetary award can replace a family member, compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit can help your family stay financially afloat during a difficult time.

3. There Are More Potentially-Liable Parties in Commercial Truck Accidents

When you’re involved in a collision with another passenger vehicle, the only party you’re usually dealing with is the other driver. However, in a truck accident case, there are more parties involved. In addition to the driver of the tractor-trailer, other potentially liable parties can include:

  • The trucking company
  • The manufacturer of the truck, trailer, or vehicle parts
  • The person responsible for loading the truck’s cargo
  • The person responsible for the truck’s maintenance

Determining liability in truck and car accident cases is complex. Our truck accident attorney will conduct a thorough investigation to determine what may have caused your wreck and what parties may share fault for your injuries.

4. Trucking Accident Investigations Can Be More Complex

The sheer volume of potentially-liable parties can make a truck accident investigation more complex than a typical car accident. While some of the types of evidence gathered, such as police reports, medical records, and witness testimony may be similar in both car and truck wreck claims, truck accident cases can involve other types of evidence, such as:

  • Bills of lading
  • Weight tickets
  • Internal governing and recording devices
  • Dispatch instructions
  • Delivery documents
  • Downloads of onboard systems
  • Drug screening records
  • Maintenance records
  • Truck inspection records
  • Hours of service documentation
  • The driver’s training file and qualification file

Our experienced accident attorney understands the complexities of these difficult cases and has the knowledge and resources necessary to gather the pertinent evidence in your claim.

5. Damages in Truck Accident Cases Can Be Higher

Because truck crashes often result in more severe injuries and property damage, the compensation pursued in these claims is often higher than in passenger vehicle wrecks.

Following a serious collision with an 18-wheeler, you may be facing severe pain, disability, high medical bills, and time away from work that you can’t afford. Depending on the details of your case, your attorney can help you seek damages for:

  • Current and future medical expenses
  • Lost wages due to time away from work
  • Future loss of income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of value in property damage

These are only some examples of the compensation to which you may be entitled after a truck wreck. Our trucking accident lawyer will review the unique facts in your case and calculate the value of your current and future losses.

Contact an Olympia Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Attorney Marya Fuller has substantial experience in a range of motor vehicle accident cases. She is committed to helping accident victims pursue the maximum compensation they deserve for their physical, emotional, and financial losses.

See our reviews.

If you have been injured in a truck accident or car accident, call Fuller & Fuller, Attorneys at Law today at (800) 570-4878 for a free, confidential consultation. With offices in Olympia and Tacoma, we proudly represent injury victims throughout Washington.

We handle personal injury cases on a contingency basis, which means we will not charge you a fee unless we get you money.


by Fuller & Fuller Attorneys at Law
Last updated on - Originally published on

Posted in: Car Accidents