An accident involving a semi truck is much different than an accident involving two passenger vehicles. Not only are they much, much larger, semi trucks have different rules regulating their industry.
When you are in an accident with a semi truck driver, and they are at fault, the case will likely be handled differently than if you were in an accident with another passenger vehicle driver.
As a truck accident attorney in St. Louis, I have noticed that many people may not understand the differences between a car accident and a truck accident and what to do after they happen. It’s important to take these differences in to consideration when hiring a lawyer to represent you after an accident.
Below is a list of some reasons why semi truck accident cases are different than car accident cases.
- Tractor trailers are bigger and heavier. Because semi truck trailers vary in size so much and because they are so much heavier than all cars on the road, when an accident happens people are more likely to get hurt.
- Truckers are professional drivers, and are more heavily regulated. Because interstate truck drivers are required to have special commercial driver’s licenses it means they are held to a different standard than the typical driver. Because truck drivers are considered professional drivers, when they are at fault for an accident more serious penalties may apply.
- Semi trucks have sophisticated electronic systems that can provide valuable information in a case. There are systems in a truck such as tire pressure monitoring, engine control modules, speed control, and backup systems. The information that all of these systems provide can make a difference in the case when determining who was responsible for the accident, and why.
- Evidence disappears more readily in accidents involving semi trucks. Trucking companies aren’t required to keep some records for very long. In addition to that, other evidence may quickly disappear if not obtained shortly after the accident.
- More and different types of experts may be required in a trucking case. In many trucking cases, an expert will be necessary to access the systems in a truck that were mentioned above. Depending on the case, an accident reconstructionist, load securement experts, and other specialists may be important to the investigation.
If you have been injured in an accident involving a semi truck in St. Louis, Missouri, knowing where to find an experienced trucking accident attorney could make all the difference. The right attorney will know how to investigate the case and gather the right evidence to get you the compensation you may deserve.
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