Absolutely.

There are various hazards associated with big commercial trucks including big rigs, eighteen wheelers, tractor trailers, semis, and tanker trucks than there are with other smaller vehicles and cars. Because of these differences, an accident involving any kind of truck is much more likely to result in serious injuries and death than one where only small cars are involved. Here’s a look at these hazards:

For one, a big truck is one that weighs a minimum of 10,000 pounds in gross weight. This is without accounting for any passengers or cargo. A fully loaded truck can weigh as much as 100,000 pounds and more. Trucks with multiple trailers can weigh a lot and also go up to 75 feet in length. Compare these proportions, to the size and weight of a small car, which weighs about 3,000 pounds, and you can easily understand why an accident with a big truck is likely to be far more dangerous.

Because of their immense size and weight, it is very difficult for big trucks to brake and stop suddenly. Even if they do brake, a truck requires much more space to come to a halt than small cars, which is why there are so many head-on and rear-end collisions with big trucks. Imagine being hit straight on with a force of more than 10,000 pounds and at the speeds at which trucks travel, and you can understand why truck accidents are so catastrophic.

The nature of the cargo that big trucks often carry, can also present additional dangers in truck accidents. If the loads are not secured properly, they may become loose and cause injuries to people. In case of a truck accident, the impact may cause heavy loads to fall from the truck, thus crushing other vehicles or people under the heavy weights.

Trucks, which carry hazardous materials such as oils, petroleum products, chemicals, compressed gases, and other inflammable goods, can be very dangerous if involved in an accident. The hazardous materials may cause burn injuries, fires, and even radiation, if they are released because of the impact of the truck accident. Even if someone would have been able to survive the impact itself, if the truck is transporting hazardous materials, it often becomes impossible to escape injuries caused by such cargo.

As small vehicles and cars do not carry such goods or other types of heavy loads, an accident that involves only small cars does not have to face the above type of dangers, which are experienced in truck accidents.

Under-ride accidents are another danger that is only related to truck accidents and not to accidents involving cars. In an under-ride accident, a small car can go fully under the truck, either from the rear or the sides of the truck, as trucks have a height of 45-50 inches from the ground and small cars are only about 30 inches high. Because of this disparity in the heights of trucks and small cars, under-ride accidents are very common. In such an accident, the entire roof of the small car can be sliced away and the same could be the fate of any passengers in the car.

Obviously, if there was an accident involving only small cars, there is no question of any under-ride accident, or any injuries or death because of the under-ride.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, is in your best interest to contact a truck accident attorney as soon as possible. They can help you to determine the best course of action to take to get you the maximum compensation you deserve.

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