How Truck Accidents Differ from Car Accidents

How Truck Accidents Differ from Car Accidents: A Georgia Legal Perspective

Truck accidents are different from car accidents in nearly every way. They cause more severe injuries, involve more parties, and follow stricter laws. In Georgia, crashes involving large trucks often lead to complex legal claims, especially when commercial drivers, trucking companies, or hazardous materials are involved. Understanding these differences is essential if you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident.

In this blog, we explain how truck accidents differ from car accidents, the laws that apply to commercial vehicles in Georgia, and why working with an experienced Douglasville truck accident lawyer is important for protecting your rights and securing fair compensation.

Size, Weight, and Force: Why Truck Accidents Are More Dangerous

Truck accidents often lead to more serious outcomes than car accidents because of the massive size and weight of large trucks compared to passenger vehicles.

Large Trucks Are Heavier Than Other Vehicles

Large trucks weighing up to 80,000 pounds create a level of force far beyond what most passenger vehicles can handle. In contrast, the average passenger vehicle weighs about 4,000 pounds. This weight difference means crashes involving large trucks often result in more damage, more severe injuries, and sometimes even fatalities. The risk increases when these vehicles travel at high speeds on Georgia’s interstate highways and rural roads.

More Force Equals More Damage in a Crash

In any crash, force is determined by mass and speed. Since commercial trucks are both heavy and fast, they generate extreme force during impact. This leads to more serious injuries, including spinal damage, internal bleeding, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries. Fatal crashes are also more common in truck accidents, especially for passenger vehicle occupants.

Commercial Trucks Need More Time to Stop

Truck drivers operating tractor trailers or other commercial vehicles need more distance and time to come to a stop. A fully loaded truck traveling at highway speeds may need up to 200 yards to stop safely. This creates a danger when passenger vehicle drivers brake suddenly or when traffic conditions change. Rear-end crashes caused by delayed braking are common in truck accident cases.

More Weight Means More Property Damage

Truck crashes often involve significant property damage. The size and weight of delivery trucks, truck tractors, and tractors pulling trailers can crush smaller vehicles, destroy barriers, and damage road infrastructure. This makes truck accident claims more costly and more difficult to resolve without legal help from an experienced truck accident attorney.

Size Also Increases Blind Spots

The height and length of large trucks create wide blind spots on all four sides. These blind spots prevent truck drivers from seeing other cars, especially when changing lanes or turning. Accidents caused by blind spots are common, particularly in urban areas with heavy traffic or narrow roads.

Regulatory Complexity: Truck Drivers and Commercial Vehicle Laws

Truck accidents involve more legal rules and industry regulations than typical car accidents, especially when commercial trucks operate across state lines or carry hazardous materials.

Commercial Truck Drivers Must Follow Federal and State Rules

Truck drivers are required to follow strict regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Georgia law. These rules cover driver licensing, training, rest periods, and vehicle inspections. For example, Georgia’s Code § 40-1-8 outlines specific requirements for commercial vehicles operating within the state. Unlike regular drivers, commercial truck drivers must carry a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and complete medical exams to prove they are fit to drive.

Hours of Service Rules Are Designed to Prevent Driver Fatigue

Driver fatigue is a major cause of truck crashes. Federal hours-of-service rules limit how long a truck driver can stay behind the wheel without taking breaks. Drivers must log their hours and rest periods electronically. These rules aim to reduce the risk of crashes involving long hours and drowsy driving, which are more common in the trucking industry than in regular motor vehicle crashes.

Truck Maintenance and Cargo Regulations Increase Liability

Commercial trucks must pass regular inspections to ensure they meet safety standards. If a truck accident is caused by mechanical problems or poor vehicle maintenance, the trucking company may be held responsible. The FMCSA also regulates how cargo is loaded and secured, especially when trucks carry hazardous materials. Unsafe loading can lead to rollovers or spilled cargo, increasing the chance of serious injuries and property damage.

Multiple Parties Can Be Liable in Commercial Truck Accidents

A truck accident claim often involves more than just the driver. Liability can extend to the trucking company, vehicle maintenance providers, cargo handlers, or even the truck manufacturer. Georgia law recognizes vicarious liability under O.C.G.A. § 51-2-2, which holds employers responsible for their drivers’ actions during work. This makes truck accident cases more legally involved than standard car accident claims.

Liability Is More Complicated in Truck Accident Cases

Truck accident claims often involve more parties and more legal issues than car accident claims, making it harder for injured drivers to get fair compensation without legal help.

Multiple Parties May Share Fault

In a typical car accident, one driver is usually at fault. In truck accidents, responsibility can fall on several parties. These may include the truck driver, the trucking company, the maintenance provider, the cargo loader, or the manufacturer of a faulty part. Each party may carry different types of insurance, which can delay a truck accident claim.

Trucking Companies Are Often Held Responsible

Under Georgia law, employers are responsible for their employees’ actions during work. This is known as vicarious liability. If a commercial truck driver causes a crash while on duty, the trucking company may be legally liable. The company could also be held responsible for hiring unqualified drivers, failing to train them properly, or skipping routine vehicle maintenance.

Insurance Companies Fight Hard in Truck Accident Cases

Commercial truck accidents usually involve larger insurance policies. These policies can cover higher damages due to serious injuries, property damage, or even fatalities. Because of the money involved, insurance companies often push back against claims. They may try to blame the other driver, deny injuries, or downplay medical care needs. This is why hiring a truck accident attorney is critical.

Proving Fault Requires Strong Evidence

Truck crashes often require more investigation than regular motor vehicle crashes. Black box data, driver logs, cargo records, and vehicle maintenance reports all help show what caused the accident. Delays in collecting this evidence can hurt a personal injury claim. An experienced truck accident lawyer can act quickly to secure records before they are lost or destroyed.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents vs. Car Accidents

Truck accidents often happen for different reasons than car accidents, largely due to the size, weight, and operation of commercial vehicles.

Driver Fatigue Is More Common Among Truck Drivers

Truck drivers often drive long hours across rural areas and interstate highways. Federal rules limit how many hours a driver can work, but fatigue still plays a major role in many truck crashes. Drowsy driving reduces reaction time and increases the risk of fatal crashes. In contrast, car accidents are less likely to involve drivers working long shifts behind the wheel.

Mechanical Problems Are a Frequent Cause in Truck Crashes

Large trucks require regular inspections and maintenance. Worn brakes, tire failures, and engine trouble can all lead to serious truck accidents. Maintenance failures are more dangerous in large trucks because of the weight and speed involved. Car accidents can also involve mechanical issues, but these problems are more closely watched in the commercial trucking industry.

Improper Lane Changes and Blind Spots Cause Many Truck Accidents

Tractor trailers and other large trucks have large blind spots on all sides. If a truck driver fails to check these areas when changing lanes, a crash with another vehicle can occur. Passenger vehicles are often struck or forced off the road because the truck driver could not see them. This type of accident is less common in collisions between two passenger vehicles.

Improperly Loaded Cargo Creates Risk

Crashes involving commercial trucks are sometimes caused by improperly loaded or unsecured cargo. Shifting weight can cause a trailer to tip or a driver to lose control. Hazardous materials increase the danger and can lead to fires, chemical spills, or explosions. Car accidents usually do not involve cargo-related issues.

Traffic Violations Contribute to Crashes

Speeding, running red lights, and ignoring stop signs can lead to both truck accidents and car accidents. However, the impact is usually greater in accidents involving large trucks due to the force of the collision. Truck drivers must follow strict safety rules, and a violation can be used as evidence in a truck accident claim.

Contact an Experienced Douglasville Truck Accident Attorney Today!

If you or someone you care about has been injured in a truck accident, do not wait to get the legal support you need. The team at Hartley, Rowe & Fowler has the experience and knowledge to handle complex truck accident cases involving serious injuries, commercial vehicles, and multiple parties.

Contact us at 678-825-6004 for a free case consultation today!