6 Ways Truck Accident Cases Differ From Regular Car Accidents

Commercial truck accidents cause catastrophic injuries and fatalities far more frequently than passenger vehicle collisions. The size and weight disparity between an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer and a 3,000-pound car creates forces that crush vehicles and devastate occupants. Beyond the severity of injuries, truck accident cases involve legal and procedural differences that make them substantially more complicated than typical car accident claims.

Our friends at Woron and Dhillon, LLC recognize that truck accident litigation requires specialized knowledge of federal trucking regulations, corporate liability issues, and industry practices. A truck accident lawyer investigates these cases differently than standard vehicle collisions, identifying all potentially liable parties and gathering evidence that often only exists in trucking company records and black box data.

Difference #1: Federal Regulations Govern Operations

Commercial trucking is heavily regulated by federal law. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations establish rules for driver qualifications, hours of service, vehicle maintenance, cargo securement, and record-keeping. Violations of these regulations can establish negligence and liability.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, trucking companies and drivers must comply with detailed requirements designed to prevent accidents. We examine whether violations contributed to your crash.

Key regulations affecting liability include:

• Hours of service limits preventing driver fatigue

• Pre-trip and post-trip inspection requirements

• Maintenance and repair documentation

• Driver qualification and training standards

• Drug and alcohol testing programs

• Cargo loading and securement rules

Trucking companies keep records documenting compliance with these regulations. We obtain driver logs, maintenance records, inspection reports, and employment files that often reveal violations contributing to accidents.

Difference #2: Multiple Parties May Be Liable

Car accidents typically involve one or two drivers. Truck accidents can involve numerous potentially liable parties including the truck driver, trucking company, truck owner if different from the operator, cargo loading company, maintenance providers, and manufacturers of defective truck parts.

This complexity increases both the investigation burden and the potential recovery. Multiple defendants mean multiple insurance policies and greater overall coverage for your injuries.

We investigate all parties involved in the truck’s operation to identify everyone who contributed to the accident through negligence or regulatory violations.

Difference #3: Evidence Preservation Is More Complicated

Modern commercial trucks contain electronic logging devices and event data recorders that capture speed, braking, engine performance, and hours of service data. This information is stored electronically and can be overwritten or destroyed if not preserved quickly.

We send spoliation letters immediately after being retained, demanding preservation of electronic data, driver logs, maintenance records, dispatch communications, and all other evidence. Trucking companies have legal obligations to preserve evidence once litigation is reasonably anticipated, but they sometimes conveniently lose or destroy helpful documents if not properly notified.

Black box data provides objective evidence about vehicle speed, brake application, and other factors that drivers often lie about after accidents. This evidence must be downloaded and preserved before it’s lost.

Difference #4: Insurance Coverage Is Much Higher

Passenger vehicles typically carry minimum liability coverage of $25,000 to $50,000 depending on state requirements. Federal regulations require commercial trucks to carry minimum coverage of $750,000 to $5 million depending on the cargo being transported.

This higher coverage is necessary because truck accidents cause more severe injuries requiring extensive medical treatment and generating larger economic losses. The insurance stakes are higher, and insurance companies defend these cases more aggressively.

Commercial truck insurers employ teams of adjusters, investigators, and lawyers who respond immediately to accidents. They’re at crash scenes quickly, interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence to build defenses. You need equally aggressive representation to level the playing field.

Difference #5: Corporate Negligence May Exceed Driver Fault

Sometimes trucking companies create dangerous conditions through systemic practices that pressure drivers into unsafe behavior. Companies that require unrealistic delivery schedules force drivers to speed or violate hours of service rules. Inadequate maintenance budgets result in mechanical failures.

These corporate negligence claims can support punitive damages beyond compensatory damages for your injuries. We investigate company policies, training programs, and corporate culture to identify negligence extending beyond the individual driver’s actions.

Difference #6: Accident Reconstruction Is More Technical

Truck accident reconstruction requires understanding commercial vehicle dynamics, braking distances at various weights, jackknife mechanics, and how different cargo loads affect handling. The physics differ substantially from passenger vehicle accidents.

We work with accident reconstruction professionals who specialize in commercial vehicle crashes. They analyze available evidence including scene documentation, vehicle damage, electronic data, and witness statements to determine how accidents occurred and who was at fault.

Factors like trailer swing, underride collisions, tire blowouts, and brake system failures require specialized knowledge to properly analyze and explain to juries.

The Importance Of Experienced Representation

Truck accident cases demand attorneys who understand trucking industry practices, federal regulations, and the tactics commercial insurers use to minimize liability. General personal injury attorneys without trucking accident experience often miss important evidence and claims.

We’ve handled numerous truck accident cases and understand the investigation and litigation strategies these cases require. We know which evidence to preserve, which regulations to investigate, and how to build cases that hold trucking companies accountable.

Pursuing Justice And Compensation

Truck accidents cause life-altering injuries that affect victims and families for years or permanently. You deserve compensation that fully addresses medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs.

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, contact our office to discuss your case. We’ll investigate what happened, identify all liable parties, and fight for the comprehensive compensation you need to rebuild your life after this devastating collision.