How Truck Size and Weight Increase Accident Injury Risks in Reading
Truck traffic is heavy in and around Reading, and the sheer size and weight of these vehicles make truck accidents far more dangerous for the rest of us than they are for truckers—the larger and heavier the truck, the greater the risk involved. If a truck driver’s negligence has injured you or someone you care about, you shouldn’t wait to consult with an experienced truck accident attorney at Fanelli, Evans & Patel in Reading, PA.
Truck Size and Weight Increase Stopping Distances
Truckers can haul upwards of 80,000 pounds, which means they experience far greater stopping distances than other motorists. Truck drivers who fail to take this into account significantly increase the risk of causing life-threatening rear-end accidents.
A Truck’s Immense Size Amplifies the Effects of Excess Speed
Speed plays a critical role in a significant percentage of fatal traffic crashes, and truck drivers who speed intensify the related danger. Exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast in relation to the effects of bad weather or to the road’s overall condition carries all the following risk factors:
- Allows drivers less time to react safely to whatever they encounter on the road
- Increases the overall risk that accidents will happen
- The chances that any resulting accidents will be fatal also increase. The victims of speed-related accidents are far more likely to be seriously injured.
Large Trucks Have Large Blind Spots
Truckers must safely navigate the roadway ahead, including maneuvering through traffic. In the process, they experience large blind spots on all sides of their massive trailers. To a trucker’s left, these no zones extend across two lanes, underscoring the danger.
The Size Differential
The laws of physics ensure that larger vehicles generate more energy in collisions. When the size difference is as significant as that between big rigs and the cars we drive, there is no denying the immense danger involved. Even when truck accidents occur at lower speeds, the occupants of smaller vehicles remain at significant risk of serious injury.
In fact, this size differential is closely associated with severe –and even catastrophic– injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries that include paralysis
- Internal injuries such as internal bleeding and organ damage
- Limb loss and injuries that require amputation
- Severe burns that can be permanently disfiguring
- Complex bone fractures
The losses you suffer in the wake of a truck accident can be life-altering, but working closely with a trusted truck accident lawyer can help.
It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced Reading Truck Accident Attorney
The capable Reading truck accident attorneys at Fanelli, Evans & Patel will spare no effort in pursuit of the compensation that you deserve and that you need to recover as fully as possible. We are standing by to help, so please don’t put off reaching out by contacting us online or calling us at 484-869-2113 today.