Head-On Truck Collisions: When Your Travel Turns Tragic

Sharing the highway with a large truck is sometimes an intimidating experience. The sheer size and weight of a fully-loaded tractor-trailer is no match for a smaller truck, passenger car, or motorcycle. A head-on collision involving a large truck is especially tragic and, sometimes, deadly. If you suffered severe injuries or lost a loved one in a head-on truck collision, a truck collision lawyer can help you pursue compensation for your damages.

Truck Driver Actions

Commercial truck drivers play an essential role in transporting goods and materials. Their hours spent on the road and away from family can cause them to make dangerous decisions behind the wheel.

When fully loaded, a tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds.

Job pressures to deliver their load on time and a desire to return home can result in reckless actions such as:

• Speeding: The number of speeding violations issued to truck drivers is rising. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), more than 71,000 violations for speeds six to 10 miles per hour over the speed limit occurred in one recent year.
• Record of duty: Federal regulations require truck drivers to maintain an accurate record of their hours of service. The FMCSA found violations of falsifying or incomplete records throughout recent years.
• Lane violations: More than 36,000 lane restriction violations transpired in just one recent year on highways throughout the nation. A lane violation can lead to a tragic head-on collision with another vehicle.
• Hand-held mobile phone use: Additional data from the FMCSA shows more than 18,000 violations in a recent year for drivers using a hand-held mobile phone behind the wheel. Distracted driving involving mobile phone use is of growing concern as it removes eyes from the road, hands from the wheel, and the mind off driving.

These are just a few examples of the violations during a recent year. This eye-opening data demonstrates the volume of violations happening every day throughout the United States.

Commercial truck drivers must maintain control of their tractor-trailer. Any action from the list above can result in catastrophic injuries or death for another driver. If you experienced life-changing harm or lost a loved one due to a careless truck driver, a truck accident lawyer can help you. You do not have to fight for compensation alone.

Truck Violations

Mechanical issues can cause a truck driver to lose control.

Among the more serious issues discovered by the FMCSA are:

• Lighting issues: Inoperable headlights or turn signals
• Brake issues: Worn brake pads, faulty brakes
• Dangerous tires: Worn tread or insufficient air pressure

While not a complete list, the safety concerns listed above are common occurrences in truck inspections. The FMCSA works hard to ensure truck safety; however, a truck company and driver may take shortcuts to save time and money. When this happens, your life changes dramatically.

Liability for Your Head-On Truck Collision Injuries

Catastrophic injuries generally result in catastrophic medical expenses. A head-on truck collision can happen without warning, leaving you no chance to avoid the crash. The forceful impact can leave you with such devastating injuries as:

Traumatic brain injuries: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) define a traumatic brain injury as a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury. This type of injury affects normal brain function.

You or a loved one may experience complications such as:

• Limited or no mobility due to poor muscle coordination and weakness
• Problems with memory or problem-solving skills
• Loss of sensation such as taste, touch, vision, and hearing
• Changes in personality, such as depression or aggression

Research shows that such an injury can cost up to $3 million throughout a patient’s lifetime. Ensuring you have the funds necessary to pay for the care you or a loved one requires is why contacting a truck accident lawyer is worth consideration.

Spinal cord injuries: There are two types of spinal cord injuries: complete and incomplete. Depending upon which type of injury you or a loved one experienced, you may face limited movement or sensation.

According to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, a spinal cord injury’s lifetime cost can easily reach millions. This cost should not come from your funds but rather from those liable for your damages.

Brain or spinal cord injuries are just two examples of how a head-on collision can change your life. If a distracted driver or a truck with poor tires has ended your career and created a financial hardship, a truck accident injury lawyer can help you. If your loved one died due to their injuries, you might pursue a wrongful death claim.

Head-On Truck Collisions and Your Fight for Compensation

A truck accident injury lawyer can manage your claim and lawsuit while you recover or mourn a loss. Negotiating with a trucking company’s insurance representatives is sometimes a challenge. Their ultimate goal is to save money by paying accident victims as little as possible. This is not fair, and a lawyer can fight for what you deserve.

A head-on truck accident is a frightening experience. Truck accident lawyers know this, and they will treat you with care and concern. They will also aggressively hold those responsible accountable for your damages.

There is no way to predict the outcome of your claim and lawsuit. If an assertive insurance adjuster contacts you, contact an attorney without delay. Do not give in to their high-pressured tactics designed to confuse you. Accepting a settlement without legal representation can harm your financial future.

Consider getting the help you need by contacting a truck accident lawyer today. Having a lawyer by your side can provide you much-needed peace-of-mind during this most stressful time. You may receive compensation and justice for your traumatic accident with their help.