Any motor vehicle accident is scary. One moment you are safely driving to your destination, and before you know what has happened – a crash with another car. Or in some cases – a crash with a big rig truck.

Truck accidents are much different than auto accidents with another passenger car, sport utility vehicle, or light duty truck. If you have been involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler, take a moment to read on and familiarize yourself with the differences.

Big Rig Accidents – By The Numbers

18-wheelers have a very specific and important job of transporting goods and materials across the roads and highways of Texas. The economy depends on their ability to move a large amount in a quick and affordable manner. However, a wreck with an 18-wheeler can be very serious. Here are the facts from 2010:

• Over 115,000 accidents in the U.S
• 12,595 truck wrecks on Texas roads
• 370 fatalities
• 6,400 injuries

The good news is that 18-wheeler accidents in Texas declined in the nine-year period between 2006 and 2010. However, accidents with a big rig continue to happen across Texas roadways with alarming frequency and devastating results. If you have been involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler, you may have a claim against the driver and the trucking company.

Truck and Passenger Car Accidents – Main Differences

Three categories highlight the differences between 18-wheeler and passenger car accidents:

• Enhanced Driver and Company Responsibility
• Severity of Injury
• Resources of Responsible Companies and their Insurers

Enhanced Driver and Company Responsibility

There are very specific laws that govern commercial truck driving. It goes well beyond obeying the speed limit and other traditional roadway rules. Some of these safety regulations include:

• The number of hours that can be driven each day
• Weight of the truck and rig before and after cargo
• Truck inspections that must be done by the driver
• Truck inspections that must be done by the company
• Maintenance requirements of brakes and other safety systems
• Proper CDL license
• Drug and alcohol testing
• Drivers background and driving record
• State and federal regulations for truckers and the common carriers they drive for

If any of these regulations have been broken and the broken safety rule results in harm, you may have a case of negligence against the driver and trucking company.

Severity of Personal Injury

The physics in a commercial truck accident often leave the passenger cars in a mess of mangled metal and rubber. Injuries to the driver and passengers can be equally as shocking. The severity of injuries in trucking accidents can be far greater because of the size and weight of an 18-wheeler. Injuries to passenger car occupants often include:

• Fractured and broken bones
• Back and neck strain
• Severe burns
• Internal bleeding
• Death

These injuries can result in long-term medical care, high out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. These can add to the compensation you deserve after a commercial truck accident.

Resources of Responsible Companies and their Insurers

Very often, trucking companies are large commercial affairs with many trucks on the road. These companies, knowing the severity of the damages that their drivers can cause often have significant liability insurance policies. Even with smaller trucking companies, the required minimum insurance limits are much larger than are required for passenger vehicles.

With such significant exposure in the event of significant wrecks, trucking companies and their insurers literally have teams ready at a moment’s notice to “investigate” significant 18 Wheeler collisions. Very often, action must be taken immediately after McKinney truck accidents to prevent critical evidence from disappearing or being “inadvertently” lost. The resources of the trucking companies and the sheer amount of exposure of their insurers forces the experienced truck injury lawyer to take action immediately. It is not uncommon in these situations for our attorneys to be on a plane within hours of a bad truck wreck, or in a car within minutes to preserve critical evidence before it is gone.

Get Help With McKinney Truck Accidents

Preserving critical evidence and collecting fair compensation for these serious injuries is where McCraw Law Group can help. When you or a loved one has been involved in a serious trucking accident, make sure that you have experienced 18 Wheeler injury lawyers with the resources to preserve and pursue your claim. Our McKinney truck accident lawyers can assist with holding the driver and trucking company responsible for any negligence that contributed to your accident and get you the compensation you need to set your life back on course.