Did you know that size and weight significantly affect commercial vehicle accident severity? Commercial vehicles play a critical role in our local economy throughout Tampa Bay. From transporting goods into (and out of) Florida to providing a wide variety of services, semi-trucks, work trucks, and delivery vans are commonplace on our roads. However, their size and weight significantly influence the severity of accidents they are involved in. These vehicles are usually much taller, wider, and heavier than standard cars or trucks. Even simple delivery vans pose a significant threat due to their blind spots and top-heavy nature. What does that mean when these vehicles are in an accident?
The size and weight of these commercial vehicles impact crash outcomes in three major ways.
Force and Impact play a role in commercial vehicle accident severity.
When a heavy commercial vehicle is involved in a collision, the weight amplifies the force of the impact. Remember those high school Physics lessons? Kinetic energy increases with mass. How does that apply to commercial vehicle accident severity? In short, it means larger trucks release greater energy in a collision. This poses severe risks, especially to smaller, standard vehicles. For instance, an 80,000-pound semi-truck can inflict devastating damage (even at moderate speeds!) compared to a 3,000-pound car. Even the most advanced safety technology can’t stand up to these levels of force. Therefore, these commercial vehicle accidents typically mean more severe injuries to those in the other vehicles as well. Physical damage in these accidents is often catastrophic, leading to:
- traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- paralysis
- broken bones
- serious lacerations
- blindness
- burns
- crush injuries
and more. Those affected by these injuries are left with lifelong struggles, furthering the impact of these serious accidents.
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Commercial vehicles have greater stopping distance and less maneuverability.
Due to their weight, commercial vehicles require longer stopping distances. Additionally, they are less maneuverable due to their size, so they can’t swerve as easily as a smaller car or truck. This impacts commercial vehicle accident severity in a variety of ways. Speeding is often a factor in serious commercial vehicle accidents.
Why?
1. Heavier vehicles need more space to stop.
Semi-trucks, large-scale work trucks (like plumbing trucks or HVAC service vehicles), and even larger delivery vans require a longer stopping distance to avoid collisions. The likelihood of them being able to stop suddenly is significantly less than a standard car or truck. Drivers need to keep more space between their vehicle and others on the road to safely allow for braking distance.
2. Commercial vehicle accident severity depends on braking time.
Related to space, these commercial vehicles also need more time to stop. While smaller vehicles can stop “on a dime” commercial vehicle accident severity very much increases when sudden stops result in a large truck or van hitting another vehicle from behind.
3. Drivers can’t take sudden action behind the wheel.
Drivers of commercial vehicles must plan ahead before turning, backing up, or even changing lanes. These trucks and vans are much more difficult to maneuver. If a sudden action is required, like swerving to miss an obstacle or making a last-minute turn, an accident is more likely.
Commercial vehicles like delivery vans have major blind spots!
More blind spots can mean increased commercial vehicle accident severity.
Commercial vehicle accident severity is also impacted by the higher number of blind spots on these work trucks. This is especially true of semi-trucks and larger, commercial vehicles. Even those with backup cameras are susceptible to accidents, as they can’t always see those driving alongside them on the road, or may not have good visibility off the front of the vehicle.
While technology like additional cameras can help with this issue, it’s still important to stay out of the danger zones when you’re driving near these vehicles.
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Brooks Law Group fights for you after your accident!
Have you been in a collision with a commercial truck or van, and are facing the aftermath? Commercial vehicle accident severity makes these crashes more difficult to navigate if you don’t have prior experience. The team at Brooks Law Group has spent years working with injured individuals following their accidents and related injuries. We are some of Central Florida’s top truck accident lawyers, making sure you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for your free consultation, and don’t face the battle alone. When you’re injured and worried about what’s next after your accident, Look to Brooks.
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