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Rear-end collisions can be extremely serious, leading to catastrophic injuries and even fatalities, especially when they involve large commercial trucks. In fact, according to the National Safety Council, rear-end collisions are the third-most fatal type of auto accident, accounting for over 17 percent of all fatal crashes.
Severe Injuries Caused by Rear-End Truck Crashes
Some of the most common and severe injuries suffered in rear-end truck crashes in North Mississippi are:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – TBIs occur when a violent impact or shaking harms the brain. These injuries can result in permanent physical and cognitive disability.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – The impact of an up to 80,000-pound truck can easily damage your spinal cord, causing chronic pain or even paralysis.
- Fractured Bones – Bone fractures can be severe injuries that require surgery and extensive physical therapy. A truck collision is powerful enough to fracture the femur, which is the strongest bone in the body.
- Soft Tissue Injuries – Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries affecting the muscles, ligaments, and tendons can leave victims with long-term pain and discomfort.
- Crushing Injuries – In severe collisions, victims can suffer from crushing injuries to their limbs, potentially requiring amputation.
- Psychological Injuries – Beyond the physical injuries suffered in truck accidents, victims can develop anxiety, PTSD, and other psychological injuries.
Common Causes of Rear-End Truck Collisions
While there are many causes of rear-end truck collisions, some of the most common include:
- Driver Fatigue – Fatigued driving is so dangerous that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has specific regulations regarding how long truck drivers can be on the road at a time.
- Distracted Driving – Truckers distracted by their phones or other devices are less likely to notice stopped or slowed traffic.
- Speeding – Trucks require more distance to stop than smaller vehicles, and the faster they go, the more distance they need.
- Poor Vehicle Maintenance – Poor maintenance can lead to an increased rate of vehicle failure, such as brake failures.
- Defective Products – Faulty truck components, including brakes, can make rear-end collisions more likely.
- Failure to follow safe driving procedures and practice defensive driving – there are rules and regulations applicable to eighteen wheeler drivers, dump truck drivers and bus drivers that are designed to prevent these huge vehicles from plowing into smaller vehicles on the shared roadway
- Poor Weather Conditions – Truck drivers should adjust their driving to match the weather conditions.
- Poorly Maintained Roads – Poor road maintenance, such as large potholes, missing road lines, and missing traffic signs, can lead to severe accidents.
Legal Complexities in Commercial Truck Accident Cases
Collisions involving large trucks are often highly complex, requiring the skills of an experienced truck accident lawyer. Some of the unique factors involved in rear-end collisions with large trucks include:
- Multiple Liable Parties – Multiple parties, such as truck drivers, trucking companies, and cargo loaders, could be liable for your injuries. An experienced lawyer can identify them all to maximize your compensation.
- Federal and State Laws – Commercial trucks are often regulated by both state and federal laws. You need a lawyer who is familiar with both and can use them to your advantage.
- Issues Gathering Evidence – There can sometimes be issues with gathering evidence in commercial truck accident cases, as the trucking companies delay providing the truck’s logbook files. These files hold vital information, including how long the trucker had been driving before the crash.
- Insurance Disputes – Trucking company insurance providers often try to minimize the compensation they pay out. An experienced lawyer can fight back against these predatory practices and negotiate for a fair settlement.
- Deadlines – Under MS Code 15-1-49, victims have three years to file their auto insurance claims or personal injury lawsuits against the parties responsible for their rear-end truck accident injuries.
Contact Our North Mississippi Truck Accident Lawyers
If you suffered injuries in a rear-end accident involving a commercial truck, you need an attorney who’s dedicated to helping you obtain the compensation you deserve. Contact Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman for a free consultation with a member of our legal team and to learn more about how our firm has been helping truck accident victims in the Southaven and Hernando area since 1932.
