Are commercial truck accidents more likely to cause injury than regular vehicles?
February 02, 2017 | Posted in Truck Accidents
A commercial truck is any type of truck that is used in the regular course of business. It might carry goods, and it might be used to provide services. It’s used for commerce as opposed to private personal purposes. A commercial vehicle might be defined as any vehicle that weighs more than 10,000 pounds, but that Ford Ranger with the baseball cap on top of the passenger area that delivers auto parts is far less than even 5,000 pounds. Commerce isn’t defined by weight or size.
If a commercial vehicle is defined by weight, think of a vehicle weighing 10,000 pounds impacting with a passenger vehicle weighing 4,000 pounds at 45 mph. The driver of the passenger vehicle and any its occupants are far more likely to be seriously injured in a crash with a 10,000 pound vehicle than a 3,500 pound auto parts delivery truck. Then think about that tractor-trailer weighing 80,000 pounds that impacts with a passenger vehicle at the same speed. That 3,500 pound auto parts delivery truck can do the same damage under the right circumstances.
Most commercial trucks don’t have the maneuverability and stopping ability of a passenger vehicle or a small pickup. The likelihood of a tragedy increases significantly. Commercial trucks have more blind spots, and they can take 25 to 40 percent more road to come to a complete stop on dry pavement. Imagine how long it takes them to stop on wet pavement if they don’t jackknife or roll over first. Those possibilities present their own safety issues for others who are on or about the roadway.
If you or somebody close to you has been injured and need a Tulsa Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer, contact the Wandres Law Firm in Tulsa right away. Don’t help the trucking company by giving its insurer a statement. Contact us first. It won’t cost you a penny to talk to us.