The size of large trucks puts all other types of vehicles and even pedestrians at a serious disadvantage when it comes to a collision. To be classified as a large truck it must be over 10,000 pounds, but most United States highways allow for a maximum weight of 80,000 pounds. Compare that to a passenger vehicle which weighs roughly 3000 pounds, or even worse, to a human body.

Truck vs. Car Accidents

When there is a collision between a large truck and a car, the damage is almost always more significant to the passenger vehicle. A large truck can very easily crush a compact car, and oftentimes the driver of the truck cannot even see the car. All large trucks have “blind-spots” that other drivers should be aware of. Drivers of passenger vehicles must also be aware that it is more difficult to maneuver a large truck, they can’t stop or turn as quickly as a car.

Truck vs. Motorcycle Accidents

While large trucks have an advantage over passenger vehicles, the advantage is even greater over a motorcycle and it’s passengers. Trucks are the largest vehicles on the road, and motorcycles are the smallest. When there is a collision between a large truck and a motorcycle the majority of damage and injury will always be to the motorcycle.

Motorcycles are difficult for drivers of passenger cars to see, so this is doubly true for the drivers of large trucks. Motorcycle drivers need to be even more aware of the “blind-spots” that all large trucks have.

Truck vs. Pedestrian Accidents

The bulk of a large truck’s time on the road is driven on highways and freeways. However, once a large truck gets to its destination city it then has to leave the highway and travel along roads that are shared with pedestrians.

The “blind-spots” that large truck drivers have to deal with regarding other vehicles like passenger cars and motorcycles are added to additional “blind-spots” when dealing with pedestrians. A large truck can be much taller than a person trying to cross the street so it’s possible to be in a blind spot simply by walking in front of a large truck.

This article does not contact legal advice. Please contact a truck accident lawyer in your area for specific rules and regulations.

If you live in Florida, please contact the Tallahassee truck accident lawyers at Searcy Denny (based in Tallahassee).