Truck accidents are among the most severe types of vehicle crashes. When there is a large truck involved in an accident, there are usually fatalities or at least severe, life-threatening injuries.
Size and weight
Trucks are much bigger and heavier than cars. A fully loaded truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. This large number means that if a small vehicle collides with a larger vehicle, the smaller vehicle will likely suffer the most damage.
Driver tiredness
Truck drivers work around the clock and often drive late into the night in adverse weather conditions. This is dangerous not only because the truck driver can only function up to a specific limit before becoming fatigued or even falling asleep but also because companies that use trucks and hire truck drivers often encourage drivers to remain on the road as long as possible, offering them incentives, like overtime pay, if they drive longer and farther.
Blind spots and vehicle limitations
Because of their size and length, trucks have much larger blind spots than cars, and it is much harder to overcome these blind spots. If a smaller vehicle is driving in a truck’s blind spot and the truck changes lanes into the one where the car is, it can easily hit the vehicle and cause extensive damage.
Truck accidents are especially dangerous because of their size and weight and everything else associated with the trucking industry: the long hours, driving in the dark, becoming tired or drowsy, and, of course, the conditions of the truck itself.
