Rosemont Truck Crash
Rosemont Truck Crash. A Rosemont truck crash with a passenger car can end up causing incredible harm to those inside the smaller vehicle. This is due mainly to the size and weight of a truck. While accidents do happen, despite a driver taking proactive measures, there are things you can do to avoid an accident with a big rig. One way is to understand the difficulty truck drivers have in maintaining control of their vehicle in bad weather or when attempting to negotiate tight turns on entrance and exit ramps. Another way is to learn as much as possible about the types of truck accidents that happen every day and by being informed to avoid involvement in a crash. Let’s take a look at the rigors of trucking and the types of accidents and injuries a Rosemont truck crash can cause.
It’s All About Size
The average big rig weighs about 80,000 pounds. A passenger vehicle weighs between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds. The length of a large truck varies between 70 to 80 feet. The overall length of a passenger vehicle is 15.4 feet and will not qualify as one if the length exceeds 16.8 feet. The usual height of a truck is approximately 13.6 feet, while that of a car is barely over five feet. Because of these parameters, the time it takes for a big rig to stop is roughly 40 percent more than a passenger car. Although the average road is about 24 feet in width, it takes a big rig 55 feet to turn.
Common Reasons for a Rosemont Truck Crash
Some of the most common reasons for a truck crash are:
- Fatigue: Probably the most common reason for truck crashes is that drivers are often exhausted. They are required to drive long distances as quickly as possible to bring goods to consumers. Trucking companies often infringe on driver safety by making such demands. When this happens, a truck driver may forgo sleep to meet the demands. While laws have been updated to give truckers more rest, it does not always work out that way. The result is a trucker may fall asleep at the wheel, putting other motorists in danger.
- Distraction: This category covers a broad range of activities, including texting, using a hand-held cell phone, talking on a CB radio, eating or checking a GPS device. Truck drivers spend an inordinate amount of time on the road and become bored. However, in the four seconds it takes to read the average text message, a truck, moving at 55 mph, will have traveled roughly 300 feet, the length of a football field.
- Speeding: The momentum generated by speeding in a truck weighing approximately 80,000 pounds is enormous and is not easily contained when a traffic event demands it. A trucker traveling at 70 or 80 mph will not have control over his or her vehicle, leading to a truck crash.
- Poor truck maintenance: The trucking company or the trucker if they own their vehicle is required to maintain it. This means checking fluid levels, brakes and brake lights, tires and other parts. Maintenance may seem like a costly endeavor and is overlooked by some owners and can lead to accidents on the road.
- Training: Some companies do not assure that their drivers are trained. A poorly trained driver may not be prepared for emergencies or the proper way to load cargo. Both can lead to accidents.
- Improper loading: Cargo must be loaded and secured properly. When this is not done, the cargo can shift when the truck is making a turn, changing lanes or going around a curve. This could result in a driver losing control of the truck and can lead to rollovers or a jackknifed truck.
Injuries in a Rosemont Truck Crash
Injuries are common in a truck accident, particularly to the occupants of passenger vehicles. Frequent injuries are:
- Traumatic brain injury: This type of injury is caused by a blow to the head or the force of movement of the head after impact. It can range from a mild concussion to a pooling of blood on the surface of or within the brain tissues. When a severe injury happens, life-saving surgery is usually required along with rehabilitative care. Underride accidents where a passenger vehicle slides under the truck can result in decapitation.
- Spinal cord injuries: Injury to the spinal cord can cause weakness in an extremity and partial or total paralysis. This is often a life-changing event and requires extensive treatment.
- Chest trauma: The impact of a truck crash can be so intense that shoulder harnesses can put extreme pressure on the chest causing a rib fracture, leading to lung puncture. In other cases, the harness can break, and the driver’s upper body can impact with the steering wheel, causing chest trauma. Either way, the person may require surgery to restore respiratory function.
- Fractures: The force of impact in a truck accident can lead to fractures of the femur or pelvis, both of which require surgery and long periods of rehabilitation.
- Abdominal trauma: Similar to chest trauma in its causation, the pelvic harness may strain against the person’s midsection, causing injury to abdominal organs such as the stomach, spleen or colon. This can subsequently lead to internal bleeding and death without medical treatment.
Rosemont Truck Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Rosemont truck accident lawyer. When you or a family member is injured in a truck accident, you may be looking at extended hospital stays and mounting medical bills. Obtaining the insight that an experienced injury lawyer can provide is essential. Call me at (916) 921-6400 for free and friendly advice. You can also contact me using my toll-free number (800) 404-5400 or online at our contact us page.
I’ve helped residents of Rosemont and others in the wider Northern California area to obtain the compensation they deserve in car accidents, pedestrian, and bicycle accident injuries and wrongful death cases.
The Million Dollar Advocates permits trial attorney membership from around the country who have won more than one million dollars for a client. I am proud to say I am a member of this group.
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Photo Attribution: Depositphotos_54789079_l-2015
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