How are Truck Accidents Different From Car Accidents?

Car accidents happen every day in Illinois and so, many people have been through the process. When people are then unfortunate enough to become involved in a truck accident, they think the process is relatively the same. However, truck accident claims vastly differ from car accident claims due to their very nature. They are much more complex and can take much longer. A truck accident lawyer can help you through the challenges these claims present.

Different Laws

Most people know the laws surrounding safe driving in the state. All drivers are expected to drive safely, follow traffic signs and signals, and comply with the rules of the road. The trucking company must also follow these regulations, as well as their own unique set of laws. 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation Act outlines these rules, and when truck drivers or trucking companies do not follow them, they can be found liable for a crash. Most people are not inherently familiar with these laws and so, they can make a truck accident case much more complicated than car crash claims.

Different Science

The very nature of commercial trucks differs so vastly from that of passenger vehicles that it also makes truck accident claims more challenging. Trucks take much longer to slow down and come to a full stop than passenger vehicles, they must also take wide turns, and they take longer to accelerate. All of these differences are crucial in a truck accident claim, but many people do not fully understand them. 

Severity of Injuries

While car accidents can result in serious injuries, accident victims rarely escape truck accidents unscathed. Trucks are much larger and much heavier than passenger vehicles and so, they cause greater damage when they are involved in a collision. Before filing a claim, you must fully understand the severity of your injuries so you can claim the maximum damages you deserve. Catastrophic injuries may lengthen the timeline of your claim.

Determining Liability

When an accident occurs between two passenger vehicles, one of the drivers is usually at fault. While determining liability is not necessarily easy in these types of collisions, it is even more challenging in a truck accident case.

Many people think the truck driver is usually at fault for truck crashes, and that is sometimes true. However, other liable parties could include the trucking company, the maintenance or inspection company, the loading company, and even the manufacturer of the truck or its equipment. Trucking companies and other parties are often reluctant to submit evidence such as logbooks and inspection reports, which makes determining liability even more difficult.

Call Our Experienced Illinois Truck Accidents Lawyers

Truck accident claims are much more challenging than other auto collision cases, but our Streator truck accident lawyers know how to overcome those difficulties. At Brassfield & Krueger, Ltd., we will accurately evaluate your claim, conduct an investigation to determine liability, and help you secure the maximum damages you deserve. Call us today or contact us online to schedule a free consultation so we can review your case.