How are Car and Truck Accident Cases Different?

Many people assume that one type of vehicle accident case is much the same as another. This, however, is not true when it comes to truck and car accident claims, as the former tend to involve much more serious injuries, different kinds of evidence, and more potentially liable parties. Because these cases tend to be so much more difficult to resolve, it is usually in an accident victim’s best interests to work with an experienced attorney who can help them navigate the legal process.

Truck Accident Damages are More Severe

 Commercial trucks can weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds, meaning that they vastly outweigh the average passenger car. As a result, collisions between these two kinds of vehicles are often catastrophic for the occupants of the smaller car, who are not only a lot more likely to sustain devastating vehicle damage, but also potentially deadly injuries. This often leaves surviving accident victims forced to seek large sums from at-fault trucking companies, who may be unwilling to pay out the full value of a claim.

Truck Accident Cases Require More Evidence 

Determining fault for a truck accident often ends up being quite difficult, as it requires the careful analysis of a lot of information, including:

• Cargo manifests;
• Vehicle maintenance reports;
• Black box data;
• Hiring records;
• Driver schedules; and
• Time logs.

This evidence is in addition to the types of proof that are usually required for a car accident claim, like police reports, medical records, and footage from traffic and security cameras. Some of this evidence, like black box data, is only saved for a short period of time, which means that it could be erased by the time a claimant seeks it via a discovery request. The best way to avoid this is to work with an attorney who is well-versed in the discovery process and can ensure that a trucking company doesn’t manipulate or destroy evidence.

Truck Accident Cases Involve More Potentially Liable Parties 

In car accidents between two people, fault usually lies between those individuals, or perhaps one other third party. This is not usually the case in truck accident cases, where it is much more likely that a crash was the result not just of the actions of one person, but of many individuals or entities, including:

• The trucking company;
• Mechanics and maintenance personnel;
• A vehicle parts manufacturer;
• The truck’s driver; or
• A third party driver.

The sheer number of potentially liable parties makes it a lot harder to collect compensation after a truck accident. Again, an experienced attorney can play a critical role in seeking damages from the right parties.

Contact Boone & Davis Today 

Truck accident cases tend to be complex, so it’s a good idea to work with an attorney who can ensure that you don’t end up facing the trucking company by yourself. To learn more about how one of our experienced Florida truck accident attorneys can help with your own claim, please call  us at 954-566-9919 or send us an online message today.

Sources:

 ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/publications/size_regs_final_rpt/

iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/large-trucks