According to the Washington Post, there are 1.7 million rear-end collisions each year. Even minor fender-benders cost Americans millions of dollars a year. While some rear-end collisions lead to minor injuries and damage to vehicles, accidents involving heavy and powerful commercial trucks can lead to devastating injuries.
Injuries Suffered From Rear-End Collisions
The most common type of injury suffered from a rear-end collision is whiplash. The sudden and violent movement of your neck can lead to soft tissue injuries. Because the accident is so sudden, there is no time to prepare for the collision and the motorist often suffers more severe injuries. Whiplash can lead to pain and suffering that can last as long as a year.
Your back is vulnerable to an injury even when the truck is traveling at a slow speed. The collision can cause your spine to compress and you may suffer from long-term and severe back pain as a result.
The Danger of a Rear-End Collision Involving a Truck
Commercial trucks can weigh tens of thousands of pounds, while your average car only ways about 3,000 pounds. Therefore, the force and weight of the truck can be too much for your car to protect you from. Because a commercial truck brakes much more slowly than a passenger car, the truck driver may find it impossible to avoid rear-ending another driver.
Commercial truck drivers who drive recklessly by speeding or tailgating may be unable to brake fast enough to avoid rear-ending you. Also, if the truck driver is not paying attention, he or she might not notice you until it's too late to brake.
The size of the truck can easily push you into another car nearby and create a multi-car pileup. As a result, being rear-ended by a commercial truck will:
Because of the danger that a commercial truck poses, commercial drivers are held to a higher standard than other motorists on the road.
Defective Commercial Trucks
Truck drivers are responsible for taking care of their trucks. For example, a commercial truck driver must have his brakes inspected periodically and should have any repairs carried out by a mobile repair technician.
If you have suffered from an injury as a result of a rear-end collision, you should contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. By being rear-ended, you will likely not be considered at fault for the accident.
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