When a truck is in a collision with a car, most people assume the trucker is at fault. Statistics from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) show this assumption is usually wrong. In 81% of cases, they found that the car driver was to blame for the crash with a truck.
Most car drivers have never even sat in the cab of a truck, let alone tried to drive one. They do not understand how challenging it is. Therefore, when they encounter an 18-wheeler on the road, they act in a way that endangers you and them.
Why do car drivers cause truck collisions?
Here are some of the errors drivers of smaller vehicles make:
- They sit too close behind you: Something happens in front of you, and you need to slow. It could be another vehicle braking, a light turning red, or a pothole. It is not your fault if the car behind did not leave enough of a gap and crashes into the back of you.
- They pull too close in front of you: Some drivers are in such a hurry to pass that they take stupid risks and need to squeeze back under your nose to avoid getting hit by an oncoming vehicle. You might not be able to stop in time.
- They do not account for the wind: It should be obvious that strong gusts of wind can blow an 18-wheeler sideways. If a car is tight alongside, they cannot blame you if the wind blows you into them.
- They do not leave you room to turn: You need to turn left, so you indicate and pull out to swing into the turn. An impatient driver cuts up your inside and crashes into your turning cab.
Car passengers often suffer worse injuries in a truck crash, so people focus on helping them. Yet, you have just as much right to receive compensation. Showing why the collision was their fault, not yours, will help.
