Getting into a car accident is very scary, and the likelihood of getting hurt is very high. What many Mississippi residents may not be aware of is that getting into an accident with a truck can often be more deadly than getting into one with a car. You always need to be aware of your surroundings when you’re on the road, keeping an eye out for cars. You must be even more vigilant when you’re on the road with trucks.
Trucks are a lot larger than cars
Trucks are a great deal heavier and larger than passenger vehicles. The largest ones can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. That is an immense amount of weight to fall on top of or slam into a passenger car, and that’s why collisions with trucks often cause fatalities.
It takes longer for trucks to stop
If a truck must stop suddenly to avoid hitting a car, it will take it longer to stop once the driver has applied the brakes. A truck going 65 miles per hour takes 520 feet to stop, and there’s also some lag time between the driver hitting the breaks and the stop signal reaching the wheels. This scenario means that trucks often can’t stop in time to avoid an accident.
Trucks can’t move out of the way in time
Trucks can’t move out of the way in time if there are obstacles in their path. This is due to their weight, length and delayed response time when trying to swerve.
Who can help people involved in trucking accidents?
People who are trying to figure out the next steps after being involved in deadly truck accidents may benefit by working with attorneys who have experience in this area. They understand the complex legal, insurance and financial issues that follow these incidents and may be able to help you move forward.