The Barnes Firm

Why are Commercial Trucks So Dangerous?

• December 2, 2019
• Sandy

LOS ANGELES — Millions of commercial trucks line the country’s interstate each and every day. Truck accident lawyers in Los Angeles with years of experience say these trucks are involved in upwards of 500,000 collisions annually. About one person is killed in a truck accident every 16 minutes and, due to the sheer difference in size, it’s usually the occupant of the smaller car.

It’s no surprise that trucks are more dangerous vehicles considering they are several times larger than the average car on the road. Certain factors make these trucks more susceptible to crashes, and therefore, more deadly.

Factors that Make Semi Trucks More Deadly than Cars

Semi trucks are roughly four times heavier than the average passenger car and can be up to six times as long, depending on the number of trailers they tow. The weight and length of these vehicles affect the ease with which they can be maneuvered. Some of the things impacted by a commercial truck’s size and weight are:

• The time and distance needed to stop. A semi truck needs up to 600 feet of stopping distance to come to a complete stop. At 55 MPH on dry pavement with good brakes, it could take a fully-loaded truck about six seconds to stop.
• The truck driver’s visibility. A truck’s length presents issues when cars try to pass it because regardless of the truck’s mirrors, the trailer will present blind spots. A trucker’s visibility drops the further away from the cabin you are.
• The truck’s center of gravity. The high center of gravity on a tractor trailer makes them less stable than any other vehicle on the road.

According to truck accident lawyers in Los Angeles, these characteristics make a truck susceptible to specific truck accidents that can often turn fatal, such as:

• Rollover accidents
• Jackknife accidents

Collisions with semi-trucks frequently result in catastrophic injuries that may take years to heal or may impair victims for life. It’s important to exercise caution around tractor-trailers rather than erratically attempting to pass them on the highway. Due to their size and shape, truck drivers cannot often see small cars behind them moving frantically. Blind spots are abundant on these trucks and lead to accidents on a daily basis.

Working with a Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been hurt in a collision with a commercial truck in Los Angeles, your injuries will likely lead to steep medical bills you did not anticipate. Call a truck accident lawyer with The Barnes Firm to learn what you can expect to recover financially in your case. Our team of attorneys has worked on countless truck cases and recovered substantial compensation for our clients throughout California. Get in touch for a free consultation.

The Barnes Firm (800) 800-0000