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We all know what to do after a car accident: call the police, and don't leave the scene until told we can leave. But what about an accident involving a large commercial truck? Is it the same as for a car accident? In some ways yes, but in some ways no. Here is your guide to understanding what to do and why after your accident with a large truck. A Question of Scale Large trucks are just, well, larger than your average vehicle. With a gross weight up to 80,000 pounds (or more, if a special license is obtained), a large truck dwarfs even the largest SUVs. Because of their mass, large trucks are more dangerous than passenger cars on the highway. For every mile driven, large trucks are nearly twice as likely to be involved in a fatal accident as passenger cars, and 85% of those killed were in vehicles other than the large truck. So if you are involved in an accident with a large truck, it is much more likely that someone has been seriously hurt or killed, which makes it much more important that you document the accident as much as possible. Also, always be sure to visit a doctor after your truck accident, even if you feel fine or "just a little stiff." More Hands in the Pie Whereas a passenger car is typically owned by one person, normally driven by the same person, and covered under one insurance policy, a large truck is a much different situation. The truck and trailer are typically owned by different companies, and the driver may not own either. All three may have different insurance policies with different liability limits and conditions. Finding out which insurance policy is relevant to your accident can be difficult. This means there is more information to gather. Get identifying information from the driver, the cab, and the trailer. Note the presence, absence, and condition of tires, brakes, safety equipment, and reflectors and lights. More at Stake Against the potential injuries suffered by people in accidents with large trucks are factored the economic aspects of trucking. Trucking represents a $330 billion industry, one that is highly competitive with tight margins. Whenever serious personal injury comes up against large commercial interests, you can bet the industry will take steps to control its losses in whatever way possible. They know that the average accident will cost them upward of $100,000, even without the lost time for truck and driver, which may cost as much as $100 per hour. To control costs and get their drivers back on the road more quickly, trucking companies dispatch representatives to the accident site, representatives whose job is to control the narrative of the accident, to tell the trucking company's story that it was not the truck driver, but another driver who is at fault for the accident.
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