Truck accidents are more dangerous than standard car crashes. This is because the chances of catastrophic injuries and fatalities are higher in truck crashes. A significant percentage of fatal crashes reported yearly in Georgia involve a truck.
The weight and height differences between a truck and a standard passenger vehicle heavily contribute to the increased risk:
Trucks are substantially heavier and higher
A commercial truck often weighs 20 to 30 times more than a standard passenger vehicle. With the latter weighing, on average, around 4,000 pounds, a truck can weigh from 10,000 pounds to 80,000 pounds when loaded.
An 80,000-pound truck is 20 times heavier than a 4,000-pound standard car. When travelling at the same speed, the truck possesses 20 times more kinetic energy. If these two collide, the car will absorb almost all the impact energy.
Since it’s heavy, the truck will barely slow down during the impact. Its velocity (speed in its specific direction) will change slightly – only a fraction. However, because the standard passenger car is lighter, it will experience an instant and large change in velocity.
The truck’s massive forward momentum will push right through the car. Such force can completely overwhelm the small vehicle’s safety systems like crumple zones, exposing occupants to a force that can result in severe injuries.
When it comes to height, a commercial truck can stand at about 13.5 feet tall compared to a standard passenger car’s 4 to 5 feet. This height difference can make a crash between these two more dangerous, as there is a risk of an underride crash. The standard car can slide underneath the truck, leading to catastrophic injuries.
A truck accident can considerably change your life. If you were injured in such an accident, consider legal guidance to receive the compensation you deserve.