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A truck doesn’t need to hit you to hurt you

On Behalf of | Apr 5, 2021 | Truck Accidents |

Crashing with a truck can cause catastrophic damage for any person involved. Commercial trucks are heavy and massive, meaning they can crush smaller vehicles when an operator loses control and collides with them.

However, a truck does not actually need to crash into you to hurt you.

Secondary crashes

Any accident involving a truck can cause a lot of chaos. There can be emergency responders on the scene, closed lanes and debris littering the roadway.

Because of all this activity, even if a crash occurred well before you are driving by, you can still be at risk of a secondary accident. These can happen when people get distracted by the scene, slow down to gawk or when traffic suddenly slows down. One study estimates that 9.2 percent of all motor vehicle accidents happen as a result of another accident.

Cargo spills

Trucks haul all types of cargo, from boxes full of clothes to food and animals. When trucks overturn or crash, anything they are carrying can spill out on the roadway. The risk of this can be especially significant if the cargo is unsecured or someone loaded it improperly.

This spilled cargo can create hazards in the roadway others must avoid; it can make roads impassible; it could pose a threat to anyone in the area if it is toxic.

Untangling liability after these accidents

In these situations, there can be several parties involved, including:

  • Truck drivers
  • Loaders
  • Individual motorists
  • Trucking companies
  • Government agencies responsible for unsafe roads or bridges

Because of how many people may have played a role in an accident involving trucks, it can be quite complicated to determine who is liable for any damages you suffer in a crash. And often, multiple parties carry some liability.

Ensuring you identify all the responsible parties can be crucial, as it can make it easier to collect the maximum compensation you could deserve after a serious accident.

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