Car and truck accidents have very fundamental differences between them. While both might cause detrimental effects, the sheer impact of a truck would mean that there is more damage being done. This makes it especially important to identify who the responsible or negligent party is in the accident. Before we analyze the key differences in a car vs. truck accident case, we need to understand that commercial trucks make up a huge chunk of the American economy. In fact, almost three quarters of freight cargo in the United States is transported using trucks. In the case of a truck accident, the best thing you can do is to hire a truck accident lawyer to help you through all the complicated legal proceedings.
One of the key main difference between the two types of accidents is that there is different evidence to collect after the accident. For both kinds of accidents, it is wise to collect the details and contact information about the other party, as well as their driving inspection records. You should also take clear photos of the accident, the extent of damage to all vehicles in the accident and any injuries that were caused by it.
For commercial trucks, there are some kinds of evidence that are different. This includes the cargo evidence. Cargo evidence consists of dispatching certificates, documents to prove the legitimacy of the cargo, as well as whether the cargo was packed properly before being loaded onto the truck. The improper packing of cargo before shipping can be a cause of truck accidents. You should also be aware of the vehicle evidence, which consists of the GPS records of the truck and its inspection history.
For car accidents, the typical stakeholders involved in would be the drivers and their employers. On the other hand, there are other parties involved when it comes to truck accidents. There are many factors that affect the liabilities as well. An example would be the difference between the owner of the truck and who the employer of the driver is. Another factor would be whether the truck driver was driving without cargo or without a trailer. At times, the owner of the trailer can be held accountable for compensation as well. That being said, other parties such as the packers and loaders might be held responsible for not properly fastening cargo and causing the truck accident. The complications of these matters make can be made easier by simply hiring a lawyer to help you.
Another difference between the two kinds of accidents is that there are a different set of rules and regulations for both. For the truck industry, there might be some required regulation of the records that they keep of their vehicle for example. For typical car accidents on the other hand, after you contact your attorney, they will try to imagine the period of time immediately before the collision and try to ascertain what the cause of the accident is. Once they have figured out the real cause, they will use the New Jersey Rules of the Road to see who is implicated.
Disclaimer: Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.