Truck crashes can be some of the most deadly accidents in Texas. That’s because they differ from regular car accidents in some major ways. First of all, the average semi-truck is about 16 times heavier than the average passenger car, so trucks are capable of doing a lot more damage. Here are some other important ways that truck accidents differ from car accidents.
Truck drivers are subject to federal regulations
Passenger car drivers and truck drivers both have to adhere to local and state traffic laws. However, truck drivers are also subject to federal regulations, which are a bit stricter. Federal laws regulate how long a truck driver can be on the road and how often they must take breaks. There are also other federal rules covering:
• Truck maintenance
• Maximum load size
• Electronic logging devices
A lot of big rig accidents happen because truckers violate federal safety laws. Truck accident victims often use records from electronic logging devices to prove that the trucker was driving for too many hours without sleep.
There will probably be multiple liable parties
Another major difference between car accidents and 18-wheeler accidents is that truck drivers are usually working for somebody. Unless a truck driver is an independent contractor, they will have an employer that will likely hold some liability for accidents their drivers cause. There are often other liable parties in truck accidents as well, such as freight loaders and truck mechanics.
Truck driving insurance companies are not friendly
If you have been injured in a truck accident, filing an accident claim with the liable truck driver’s insurance provider might be very different than filing a claim with auto insurance companies. Truck drivers are typically insured by large insurance companies that work hard to settle claims for as little as possible.