Important facts about commercial trucks 

As a driver, you want to do everything in your power to avoid getting involved in an accident with a commercial truck. No matter what vehicle you’re driving personally, your odds of being injured are very high if you’re hit by such a large vehicle. Even a large pickup or an SUV, two vehicles often touted for the high degree of safety they provide, will be dwarfed by a semi.

With this in mind, let’s look at some important facts and data points that can help you understand the risks you face and what you can do to avoid them:

Trucks take 525 feet to stop

On average, experts say that it will take a large truck 525 feet to come to a complete stop, which is more than 200 feet further than it would take a passenger car. This means that there is a high risk of a rear-end accident, especially if the truck driver is tailgating you.

Trucks can weigh 80,000 pounds

The high weight of a semi-truck when it’s fully loaded also contributes to longer stopping distances and difficulty braking in time. Additionally, this weight can cause rollover accidents if the load shifts. If you do get involved in an accident, the curb weight of your own vehicle is probably just a few thousand pounds, so the size difference is a big part of why you face such high risks of serious injury.

What can you do if you are injured by a truck?

If you do get involved in a semi-truck accident and suffer severe injuries, take the time to carefully consider all of your legal options to seek compensation.