When you're badly injured, the last thing you want to think about is filling out paperwork, searching for an attorney, or trying to gather evidence. Yet, these steps are necessary if you want to collect the compensation you deserve due to someone else's negligence. The more you know about personal injury cases and hiring an attorney, the less stressful this time will be.
We've created this website to offer basic personal injury law advice for anyone who has been injured or who may become injured in the future. Keep in mind that if you've been injured in a car accident, due to medical neglect, or even by slipping in someone else's parking lot, your case qualifies a personal injury case — and thus you'll find our collection of articles relevant.
If you are struck from behind by a commercial vehicle, this is likely because the commercial vehicle is harder, heavier, and has a different stopping distance from a passenger vehicle. The truck driver might have wanted to stop in time but was unable to. But there are several reasons why it might still be the fault of the commercial truck driver.
The Stopping Distance of a Commercial Truck
Commercial trucks are so difficult to stop that they will create a hissing sound when they are rolling to a stop. They will often take longer to come to a stop as a passenger vehicle. However, the amount of time also depends on weight. If the commercial truck was overloaded, not only will it take longer to stop but it will also cause more damage when it collides with your vehicle.
The driver might not stop in time because of a slow reaction time as well under the following situations:
- The driver might have simply not been paying attention
- The driver might have been on a mobile device
- The driver might have been drunk
- The driver might be exhausted due to having driven an excessive number of hours
If you can prove that any of these are a factor that leads to the commercial truck not stopping in time, you will have an easier time proving that the other driver is at fault.
Speed and Road Conditions
With any vehicle, the faster the vehicle is moving, the longer it will take for the vehicle to stop. This is especially true depending on the road conditions. If it is raining outside, the stopping time will be increased and it will take the longest for the driver to stop during icy road conditions. Also, if the truck is traveling down a hill, this can affect the stopping time.
Defective Brake Systems
If the brake system is defective, it may take even longer for the truck to come to a stop. This is why commercial truck companies are placed under greater scrutiny to make sure that they maintain their brakes. Your commercial vehicle wreck attorney will attempt to determine how frequently the driver's brakes were serviced and will bring this up during settlement negotiations.
If the insurance provider of the commercial truck driver believes that they can win a court case, they may be less willing to negotiate. But when a truck rear-ends you and is also negligent, you are much more likely to successfully negotiate a settlement.
For more information, contact a commercial vehicle wreck attorney.