Bakersfield Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck Accidents Differ From Car Accidents

Passenger car accidents can lead to severe injuries and even death. However, truck accidents are much more likely to result in severe injuries or wrongful death. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 70,000 pounds. The average passenger vehicle weighs around 4,500 pounds. Even large passenger vehicles rarely top 10,000 pounds. So, trucks are at least seven times heavier than passenger vehicles.

This weight difference makes a massive difference in accidents. A truck accident has at least seven times as much force as a passenger vehicle accident at the same speed.

Force is not the only difference between car and truck accidents. When passenger vehicles collide, they are often at similar heights. When a large truck hits a passenger vehicle, it often strikes at a higher spot, which can be much deadlier for the people in the passenger vehicles.

Another way that truck accidents differ from car accidents is insurance. The minimum car insurance coverage for passenger vehicles is relatively low, and it is often challenging to collect above someone’s policy limits, even when a victim has substantial damages. Trucks that travel interstate need to have at least $750,000 in insurance coverage, plus third parties may share liability. A successful claim with high damages is much more likely to be fully funded than a similar passenger vehicle claim. An attorney in Bakersfield could help a person understand the unique elements of a truck crash claim.

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