If you are involved in an accident with a semi-truck, the process of a claim is entirely different than that of a car accident.
A truck accident can cause severe injuries and extensive property damage due to it’s the high center of gravity, increasing the risk of turnover. This means that some accidents are specific to semi-trucks such as jackknifing. This is why trucks usually carry more insurance. Due to the higher likelihood of an accident occurring, there is a higher risk of fatality in a trucking accident. According to the United States Code of Federal Regulations, for a truck weighing 10,000 lbs and carrying non-hazardous cargo, the liability insurance must be at least $750,000. If a truck weighs 10,000 lbs and carries hazardous cargo, the insurance rate surges to $1,000,000. If a truck weighs 10,000 lbs, carries hazardous materials and explosives, this truck is now covered with $5,000,000 in liability insurance.
Truck drivers receive extensive training and their operations follow strict regulations while their vehicles are on the road. As opposed to car accidents, truckers do not take all of the fault. Their employer, the owner of the truck, or the facility which loaded the truck may be at fault, each with varying degrees of liability.
If you have been injured in a car or truck accident, contact the Law Offices of Ken Frankel, P.A.