2 factors that often make semi-truck collisions very complex matters

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Every car crash generates significant risk for those involved. At the very least, they risk expensive property damage losses that can have lasting financial implications for their household. In a worst-case scenario, people might die.

Commercial vehicles, including semi-trucks or 18-wheelers, are responsible for some of the most devastating collisions that occur on modern roads. The people dealing with the aftermath of a car crash often have significant challenges ahead, as the process of recovering after a commercial vehicle crash can be particularly difficult. Additionally, the following factors often render the legal aftermath of crashes involving semi-trucks much more difficult to navigate than “traditional” crash scenarios.

1. There is more insurance in play

The huge size of a commercial truck makes it a threat to others on the road. They’re so much heavier and bigger than other vehicles that they are both more likely to cause crashes and more likely to cause devastating consequences for the people affected if a collision occurs.

Due to that risk, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires six-figure insurance policies from commercial drivers, and some commercial vehicles have to carry even more coverage than that because they have dangerous materials inside. Therefore, not only can the crash itself prove more devastating, but the insurance claim process will likely prove more complex because insurance providers have more incentive to fight when someone makes a claim against a commercial policy.

2. There are more people who could be to blame

After a commercial vehicle collides with a passenger vehicle, it isn’t just the driver of the semi-truck who could have some responsibility for the outcome of the situation. Their employer could be partially liable and could potentially be at fault.

Fault might also fall to companies that manufacture vehicle parts or provide service to commercial vehicle fleets. Even the companies that hire transportation businesses to provide semi-truck shipping services could be to blame if they misrepresented the nature of the cargo or improperly loaded a trailer.

It may take some careful investigation to determine who actually has liability for the collision that occurred.

The average person will find even a standard car crash claim challenging and could therefore end up totally overwhelmed by the claims process after a semi-truck collision. Recognizing the challenges ahead when responding to a commercial truck crash may benefit those involved in or affected by a wreck as they seek compensation with the assistance of a legal professional.

3 factors that often contribute to cars hitting pedestrians

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The human body can suffer grave injuries when it is struck by a moving vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds. Streets and parking lots often place people far too close to heavy machinery to facilitate basic public safety. Partially as a result of this reality, pedestrians do get hit and killed by those in motor vehicles on a daily basis in the United States.

The majority of these crashes are ultimately the fault of the person in the motor vehicle rather than the pedestrian. However, even if the driver is to blame, the pedestrian is the one who will lose the most in such a wreck. Pedestrians, therefore, have every reason to try to avoid known risk factors for serious pedestrian collisions. These are some of the factors that most directly affect someone’s risk of either causing or being injured in a pedestrian crash.

1. Alcohol

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 46% of all pedestrian crashes involve alcohol in some way. Often, the person driving the motor vehicle is under the influence. Intoxicated pedestrians could potentially end up fatally injured in a crash that occurs when they step out into traffic without checking their surroundings.

2. Distraction

People understand how dangerous it is to text while driving, but they give very little consideration to how dangerous it might be to text while walking. People looking down at their phones instead of at oncoming traffic might step out into the street and end up hit even though the vehicle was completely visible. Especially when in a parking lot or crossing an intersection, pedestrians need to keep their focus on personal safety if they hope to avoid a wreck.

3. Visibility

Drivers often don’t think about pedestrians, which means they don’t look for pedestrians. Those walking near motor vehicles can improve their own safety by making themselves visible.

Joggers and others who are in the street frequently, focusing on visibility might involve buying special gear, like neon-colored vests, to draw the attention of drivers. In many other cases, the best way to promote visibility while walking in a parking lot or crossing the road is to use marked crosswalks and to prioritize traveling in areas with adequate lighting.

Those who cannot avoid being injured due to a pedestrian crash involving a motor vehicle may be able to pursue an insurance claim or possibly a lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash. Learning more about pedestrian-vehicle collisions with the assistance of a legal professional can help those who frequently walk in public spaces stay safer and those who have already suffered harm.