How Do Truck Accidents Differ From Car Accidents?

Truck crashes in South Bend, Indiana often result in more severe injuries and complex legal challenges than typical car crashes. The size difference between semi-trucks and passenger vehicles alone creates different crash dynamics that drivers should understand for their protection.

At Pfeifer Morgan & Stesiak, our dedicated truck accident lawyers have experience representing South Bend truck crash victims facing challenging circumstances. Contact us today for a free consultation, or fill out our online case form for an attorney to contact you for a free case review.

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The Size and Weight of Commercial Trucks Means More Severe or Fatal Injuries

The size difference with commercial trucks standing significantly taller than passenger vehicles creates deadly underride possibilities not present in car-to-car crashes. The higher center of gravity in trucks also increases rollover potential, which can simultaneously affect multiple vehicles on South Bend roadways.

A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, compared to the average passenger car at approximately 4,000 pounds, resulting in immensely destructive crash forces. This massive weight difference means that even at lower speeds, impact frequently causes catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, and internal organ trauma.

Truck Accidents Often Have Multiple Liable Parties

Truck crashes involve complex networks of potentially liable parties beyond just the driver. The commercial nature of trucking operations means responsibility often extends to multiple entities with separate insurance policies.

• Truck Drivers: May be liable for violations of hours-of-service regulations, distracted driving, impaired driving, or other negligent behaviors
• Trucking Companies: Often responsible through vicarious liability, negligent hiring practices, inadequate training, or pushing unrealistic schedules
• Cargo Loading Companies: Can be liable when improper loading causes weight distribution issues leading to rollovers or jackknife crashes
• Truck Manufacturers: May bear responsibility for defective parts or systems that contributed to the crash
• Maintenance Providers: Can be liable when poor maintenance directly contributes to mechanical failures causing a crash
• Government Entities: Sometimes liable for dangerous road conditions that specifically affect commercial vehicles

Federal Regulations Apply to Crashes Involving Semi Trucks

Truck crashes involve additional federal regulations that do not apply to typical passenger vehicle crashes. These mandates create specific obligations for trucking companies and their drivers that can significantly impact liability determinations in Indiana truck crash cases.

Hours-of-Service Regulations Limit Driving Time

Commercial truck drivers must follow strict federal limits on driving time. Violations of these regulations often provide crucial evidence of negligence in truck crash cases.

Electronic Logging Devices Track Compliance

Federal law requires commercial trucks to use electronic logging devices that automatically record driving time and rest periods. These electronic records provide objective evidence of compliance or violations typically unavailable in passenger vehicle crashes.

Drug and Alcohol Testing Requirements

Commercial drivers must undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing after crashes involving injuries or fatalities. These testing protocols create an additional source of evidence for establishing liability that does not exist in typical car crash cases.

Commercial Driver’s License Standards

Truck drivers must maintain specialized commercial licenses with specific endorsements for different cargo types. License violations or improper endorsements can establish negligence on the part of both drivers and trucking companies.

Regular Medical Examinations

Commercial drivers must pass Department of Transportation medical examinations every two years. Health condition violations contributing to crashes create liability factors not present in standard vehicle collisions.

Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection Rules

Federal regulations mandate detailed maintenance schedules and regular inspections for commercial vehicles. Documentation of these inspections provides critical evidence in truck crash cases beyond the maintenance expectations for passenger vehicles.

Truck Accidents Have Unique Types of Evidence

Truck crashes in South Bend have specific forms of evidence that do not exist in typical car crash cases. This additional documentation is often crucial for securing fair compensation for injured victims.

• Electronic Logging Device Data: Provides detailed records of driver hours, routes, speeds, and rest periods that can reveal federal regulation violations
• Driver Qualification Files: Contains background checks, driving history, medical certifications, and training records that may show negligent hiring
• Maintenance and Inspection Records: Documents vehicle upkeep history and safety compliance that can reveal neglected repairs or inspection failures
• Black Box Data: Records critical information including speed, braking patterns, and engine performance before and during the crash
• Load Securement Documentation: Shows whether cargo was properly loaded, balanced, and secured according to federal guidelines
• Post-Crash Drug and Alcohol Testing Results: Provides evidence of potential impairment that federal regulations require after serious crashes
• Trucking Company Safety Records: Reveals the carrier’s safety rating, violation history, and crash involvement patterns

Trucks and Other Commercial Vehicles Have Different Insurance Requirements

Truck crashes in South Bend involve substantially different insurance requirements than standard passenger vehicle collisions. Federal regulations mandate commercial vehicles carry much higher liability coverage to address the increased damage potential, creating a more complex insurance landscape for victims seeking compensation.

Commercial Truck Insurance Requirements:

• Minimum $750,000 liability coverage for general freight carriers operating interstate
• Up to $5,000,000 minimum coverage for hazardous materials transporters
• Separate cargo insurance policies covering transported goods
• Multiple policies often involved (company policy, independent contractor policy)
• May include umbrella policies with higher coverage limits
• Specialized MCS-90 endorsements guaranteeing minimum payment regardless of policy exclusions
• Separate bobtail insurance when trucks operate without trailers

Passenger Vehicle Insurance Requirements in Indiana:

• Minimum $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
• Minimum $50,000 bodily injury liability per crash
• Minimum $25,000 property damage liability
• Optional collision and comprehensive coverage
• Optional uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
• Single policy typically covering the entire claim
• No federal oversight of insurance requirements

It Takes Longer to Settle Truck Crash Cases

Truck crash cases typically require significantly more time to settle than standard car crash claims due to their complexity and the amount of possible parties involved. The investigation phase alone can extend for months as attorneys gather electronic logging data, maintenance records, and other evidence while potentially dealing with trucking companies. These cases can also involve federal regulatory violations that require detailed analysis by industry specialists to establish how they contributed to the crash.

The severity of injuries in truck crashes further extends the timeline, as proper valuation requires a complete understanding of long-term medical needs and impacts on future earning capacity. Insurance companies representing commercial carriers often assign adjusters and defense teams that vigorously contest liability, knowing the potential settlement values are substantially higher than in typical car crash cases. Truck accident victims should prepare for a longer resolution process, though the result typically reflects greater compensation in these cases.

Trucking Companies May Deploy Powerful Legal Teams

Commercial trucking companies in Indiana maintain dedicated legal teams and work with national law firms that specialize in defending truck crash cases. These defense teams spring into action immediately after a crash, sending attorneys and investigators to the scene within hours to gather evidence favorable to their clients. Their extensive resources allow them to hire accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, and industry analysts who work aggressively to minimize their clients’ liability and potential settlement amounts.

Trucking companies’ legal teams understand federal trucking regulations and use this knowledge to create a strong defense. They often shift blame to other parties or challenge the severity of injuries. Their tactics can include federal preemption arguments, disputing how the accident happened, and prolonging settlements to pressure victims into accepting lower amounts. For South Bend truck crash victims, this corporate legal power makes having experienced personal injury representation essential to level the playing field and ensure their rights remain protected throughout the legal process.

Injured In a Trucking Accident? Contact Our Trusted Pfeifer Morgan & Stesiak Truck Accident Lawyers Today

At Pfeifer Morgan & Stesiak, we protect your rights without requiring upfront costs. Our team handles negotiations with corporate trucking companies and insurance carriers while you focus on healing. With over 170 years of experience, our lawyers understand how negligence impacts truck crash cases and work to maximize your compensation.

Contact us today for a free consultation, available by phone or through our online form, to discuss your case with our dedicated legal team.

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