While they are both large vehicles, trucks and buses each come with their own particular set of dangers.
In the case of truck accidents, drivers and manufacturers of big rigs are held to a much higher standard than other drivers, and if an accident occurs you or your loved one may be reimbursed for your injuries. Typically, a full-scale “big rig” truck can weigh 80,000 pounds or more, whereas the average four-door car weighs around 3,000 pounds. With all that weight, accidents in which large commercial trucks are involved tend to present serious challenges and dangers – their size can cause total devastation to the cars and property around it. Large trucks also make it harder for the driver to have control over visibility, acceleration, braking, and turning. The latter two are symptomatic of when 18-wheelers are most likely to “jackknife,” though the truck driver may avoid being held liable due to unforeseeable road conditions, an abrupt turn, or something else. When it comes to assigning fault in an accident with a large truck, it’s important to recognize that these vehicles are typically driven for a trucking or shipping company. Therefore, when it comes to identifying defendants, there may be far more people involved than just the motorist. Employers, contractors, trucking companies, and insurance companies can all share the liability.
In addition to the risk caused by trucks’ difficult maneuverability, truck drivers themselves can pose a threat when they have insufficient training, payment determined by compensation systems that encourage faster driving, and overly long schedules that can lead to falling asleep at the wheel.
Normal-sized cars, on the other hand, can pose a danger to trucks when changing lanes abruptly, making a turn in front of the truck with too little space, or driving too close to the truck so that the driver has limited visibility. In addition, wind turbulence can push a car into a truck, and a slow entry upon the freeway can also cause a truck to stop abruptly. We are here to help you with your case.
Similar to truck accidents, bus accidents are typically some of the most severe accidents that occur on the open road. Part of the reason that the chance of injuries and deaths are increased is that a lack of seatbelts and other onboard safety measures can put riders at serious risk of injury. And while passengers injured while riding a bus might be entitled to compensation for losses following an accident, recovering an adequate settlement from a bus can be difficult.
Buses are typically owned and run by the government, which means state laws can play a more disruptive role. While lawyers not familiar with the intricate claim process are likely to hit a wall in their case, we have substantial experience, having handled bus accident cases against both the government and third-party companies.
If you have you been injured in a truck or bus accident either as a passenger or third party, then you might be eligible for compensation. We are here to review your claim at no charge or commitment to you.