At any given moment, you’ll see semi-trucks on the road. From highways to city streets, commercial trucks travel all over, transporting and delivering necessary goods. While important to the economy, semi-trucks also pose great risks on the road with their large size and substantial weight. But how much does a truck weigh?
The weight of a truck depends on the exact type of vehicle and the items it’s transporting, but trucks are much heavier than other vehicles. With this weight comes a significant capacity to cause property damage and injury.
What an Average Semi-Truck Weighs
The “average” weight of a large commercial truck is roughly 30,000 to 35,000 pounds. However, the exact weight depends on certain factors, including the weight of the truck unloaded and the weight of the cargo.
A truck's “unladen” weight refers to the weight of the truck itself without any cargo. Depending on the type of vehicle, a truck’s unladen weight often ranges from 10,000 to 25,000 pounds.
The “laden” weight of a semi-truck refers to the weight of the vehicle with cargo, occupants, and fuel. Laden weight highly differs based on the type and quantity of cargo the commercial truck is transporting.
Generally, a semi-truck’s laden weight cannot exceed 80,000 pounds. In order to weigh more than the maximum weight, the truck must have a special permit.
The average car weight is about 4,000 to 5,000 pounds. Therefore, in an accident with a semi-truck, cars are likely to sustain extreme damage, and victims tend to suffer catastrophic injuries.
How the Weight of a Truck Can Make Accidents Much More Dangerous
When moving at high speeds, as commercial trucks do, objects store and then transfer more energy in an impact as compared to slower-moving objects. A semi-truck’s laden weight also plays a large role in the severity of truck accidents.
Semi-trucks are several thousand pounds, so when one is traveling at a higher speed, it can cause great damage and physical harm in a crash. The greater the laden weight, the more serious the crash. This is one of the primary reasons why truck accidents are so serious, often resulting in life-changing injuries and even death to victims.
Simply put, the heavier a vehicle is, the more impact it can have in an accident. Therefore, semi-truck accidents are typically more severe than regular vehicular crashes.
What to Do if You’ve Been Involved in an Accident With a Semi-Truck
Truck accidents are scary and stressful, especially if you suffer devastating injuries. In order to help protect your rights to future compensation, it’s important to take certain steps. You may need some assistance, as your injuries might prevent you from doing much.
Right after your accident and in the days following, make sure to put your health and well-being first while also taking care of some of these critical tasks.
Immediately After Your Truck Accident
Right after your accident, you may be in shock. Call 911, or have someone call for you. Request law enforcement presence. When police officers arrive, they can provide much-needed guidance and assistance during a stressful time.
Officers eventually take the details they gather at the scene and put them into an accident report. A police report can play a vital role in a collision claim and help answer certain questions about cause and liability.
At the scene of your crash, you may also receive emergency medical treatment for your injuries. If necessary, you may be transported to the hospital via ambulance.
Still, even if you forgo transportation, it’s essential you follow up with a physician at an emergency room or your primary care doctor as soon as possible. Getting prompt care for your injuries is crucial to help you get on the path to recovery quickly.
In the Days After Your Truck Collision
Don’t wait longer than a day or two to contact your auto insurer. While there is no specific time frame in place to report your collision, insurance companies expect to be made aware of any incidents with their insured vehicles promptly.
Schedule an appointment with a qualified truck accident attorney as quickly as possible. Time is limited to file a claim for your serious injuries. After hiring a lawyer, they can begin working on your case right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do Truck Accidents Happen?
Truck accidents occur for a variety of reasons, often involving negligence. Common causes of these collisions include:
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Driving under the influence
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue
- Brake and mechanical failures
- Driver inexperience
Your truck accident lawyer can investigate to determine the cause of your collision. Once you understand why your accident occurred, liability is made clearer.
Who’s Responsible for Semi-Truck Accidents?
Truck accident cases are tricky because it’s not uncommon for many parties to share liability. Aside from a truck driver, any of the following parties can be at fault:
- The trucking company
- The owner of the truck
- The party responsible for truck maintenance and repairs
- Truck and parts manufacturers and distributors
Additionally, the party tasked with loading cargo into the truck could face liability, especially when weight and improper loading contributed to your accident.
What Kinds of Injuries Result Most Often From Truck Collisions?
Some of the injuries trucking collision victims most often face include:
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Internal injuries
- Injuries requiring amputation
Getting prompt medical attention for your injuries is critical, as many of these injuries can worsen without care. Medical treatment for these injuries can be costly, making your pursuit of fair compensation a top priority.
Rely on Dunn Sheehan for Your Semi-Truck Accident Case
If you’ve sustained severe injuries in a truck accident, rely on the legal team at Dunn Sheehan. Our trial attorneys have extensive experience helping injured clients get the monetary recovery they deserve. Contact our firm today.