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Denton 18 Wheeler Crash Lawyer
Big trucks on the highway scare me and I’m not afraid to admit that. I’ve spent a lot of time driving on I-35 between San Antonio and Denton, and all around the DFW Metroplex. While driving, I’m mostly concerned with other drivers especially when they are in big trucks. There’s plenty of them on the roadways because of all the construction in the DFW area, and this includes everything from 18 wheelers to cement mixers to dump trucks.
But aren’t these drivers safe? They’re professional drivers, after all. Unfortunately, 18 wheeler and other large truck drivers are not as safe as we would hope. And when those drivers aren’t as safe as they should be, major destruction can happen.
Why do 18 wheeler crashes happen?
Drivers of those big trucks are under a lot of pressure from companies to get things done quickly and efficiently. The problem is, quick and efficient in a massive truck can sometimes mean cutting corners. Sure, companies need to make money, but at what cost? Cutting corners in these big trucks can mean community members on the roadways are collateral damage. Here are some common reasons for truck crashes.
Deadlines – Truckers are often under pressure to move what they’re hauling as fast as possible. This is just asking for cutting corners and blowing speed limits. The cut corners can include driving way too close to other drivers, driving too fast, or even driving for longer hours than allowed.
Improper Training – A lot of truck crashes are caused by improper training. In fact, some of the other causes listed here come back to poor training. Training drivers to safely operate these massive machines is critical to keeping us safe. With the proper training, drivers are more able to recognize signs of fatigue and better understand safety regulations.
Fatigue – Driver fatigue can result in catastrophe. Truckers can easily get fatigued – they drive for a long time, have strict deadlines, and may not get the rest they need to safely operate their vehicle.
Unsafe Driving Practices – Driving too close to others, not keeping enough space for emergencies, and turning in front of cars are some scenarios that often happen. Again, like a lot of other reasons for truck crashes, many companies do not provide adequate training and supervision of their drivers.
Driver Inexperience – We all hope companies put safe drivers on the road. But in order to save costs, many companies sometimes put drivers on the road who aren’t experienced enough to adequately adhere to basic safety precautions designed to keep us all safe on the roadways.
It seems like there is a trend with these common types of crashes. That’s because trucking companies often care more about profits than safety. Much like in regular car crashes, 18 wheeler crashes are mostly preventable. But 18 wheelers involve more weight, more regulations, and companies that can do more to keep us all safe.
Are 18 wheeler crashes different than regular car crashes?
Heavy commercial vehicles are regulated by federal and state governments. Companies are required to make sure their drivers are following safety regulations. For example, there are regulations about how and when 18 wheelers can be parked on the side of the roadways. When investigating 18 wheeler crashes, it is important to dig into the various regulations that could have been broken.
Insurance policies are usually much different in trucking cases, too. Policy limits, meaning the amount available to pay for injuries, are typically larger than in regular car crashes. There can often be multiple insurance policies that cover one crash. Some trucking companies have self-insured retentions, meaning the trucking company has to pay a larger amount before an insurance company is obligated to pay for damages. There are some other differences that can make dealing with insurance companies in truck crash cases more complicated. Learn more about the issues that arise with insurance in truck crash cases here.
What types of injuries are common in 18 wheeler crashes?
18 wheelers are massive mega machines that can cause some serious damage. Most vehicles on the road are no match for an 18 wheeler. If you’ve ever driven past an 18 wheeler wreck, you know that there’s usually a ton of damage.
Traumatic brain injuries – Typically a traumatic brain injury (TBI) results from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body. This means that you don’t even have to hit your head against anything to get a TBI. The shock and force some 18 wheeler crashes have can easily cause a TBI, which can cause substantial problems in your life.
Spinal cord injuries – A spinal cord injury can have a devastating impact on a person’s life. The spinal cord carries messages from our brain to other parts of our body – like a highway of communication through our body. We need these pathways unobstructed and uninjured to carry out the movements we need throughout the day. A massive18 wheeler collision could result in spinal cord injuries.
Soft tissue injuries – Soft tissue injuries are also common in 18 wheeler crashes. Some of those injuries include skin lacerations, severe bruising, sprains, and strains. Depending on the severity of the crash, you could have permanent scarring and require surgery.
Broken bones – 18 wheeler crashes often involve broken bones. Like the other common injuries, the major force from a 18 wheeler crash can lead to severe injuries.
The bottom line – 18 wheelers can cause a lot of different kinds of injuries and those injuries could very well be life threatening.
How do insurance companies handle these crashes?
Insurance companies, the biggest bully on the block, want to keep people from receiving full justice. They love taking money from trucking companies, but hate doing the right thing when trucking companies carelessly injure people. Insurance companies will use every trick in the playbook to minimize your injuries, make you feel like you’re a liar, and do whatever they can to make you go away or take less money.