Collisions involving compact cars and commercial trucks or 18-wheeler trucks cause devastating injuries and deaths every year. According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, approximately 4,100 Americans are killed in truck accidents every year. These fatal accidents are often caused by sleepy drivers, distracted drivers, and intoxicated drivers. Tragically, two-thirds of fatal truck accidents involve other […]
Compact Car-Truck
Collisions involving compact cars and commercial trucks or 18-wheeler trucks cause devastating injuries and deaths every year. According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, approximately 4,100 Americans are killed in truck accidents every year. These fatal accidents are often caused by sleepy drivers, distracted drivers, and intoxicated drivers. Tragically, two-thirds of fatal truck accidents involve other motorists, and the victims are often the ones riding in passenger vehicles, not the drivers of large commercial trucks.
One of the design issues involving compact automobiles is that small vehicles create larger blind spots for truck drivers. Truck drivers report that it is difficult for them to see compact cars attempting to turn right while at intersections. Commercial truck drivers also state that it is more difficult to see compact cars that are traveling behind them or while compact cars are attempting to pass them. The trucking industry believes that the government should do more to warn drivers of small vehicles about these dangerous blind spots to reduce collisions.
Another safety concern is the lack of proper acceleration. Compact cars are smaller and can only accommodate a small engine. The amount of horsepower available to drivers of compact cars is limited due to the smaller-sized engine. Therefore, compact cars cannot accelerate quickly enough when drivers of compact cars pull out in front of commercial trucks at intersections or along highways causing accidents.
Although the number of compact car models that win top safety awards is increasing every year, compact cars structurally are not as safe as larger cars, trucks, and SUVs. Compact cars are inherently more dangerous than larger vehicles because of their size and weight. There is less space between the passengers and less space between the passengers and compact car doors.
Compact car accidents often result in entrapment and more devastating injuries due to the reduced amount of protection and space between the compact car and anything that the vehicle collides. Compact automobiles also have a smaller and shorter “crumple zone” when compared to larger motor vehicles. Smaller crumple zones lead to passengers enduring more impact forces, causing more severe accident injuries.
Were you or a loved one harmed by reckless driver? Parker Waichman LLP helps families recover monetary compensation for harm caused by dangerous drivers. For your free consultation, contact our law firm today by using our live chat or calling 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529).
