Rear End Accidents With Trucks Can Be More Dangerous Than Other Types Of Accidents in Kansas City, Missouri
According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the global rear-end accidents in 2022 were around 50.1 Million injuries sustained by car crashes.
About 27% of these accidents were rear-ended collisions and mostly with the rear end of a truck colliding with another vehicle. In Kansas City, MO, rear-end truck accidents happen due to truck failures, failure to apply brakes, low visibility, weather conditions, or drowsy driving of the truck car drivers.
A rear-end accident is the kind of accident in which the front of a truck collides with the rear side of another vehicle — car etc. Such crashes or collisions happen when the truck fails to stop at the right time, or the brake fails, and it smashes into the rear end of a car, or the semi rear ends the car. If you are in a situation like this, you can contact our truck accident lawyer or rear-end truck accident attorney. They will guide you about the next steps to take in a personal injury lawsuit.
Rear-end truck accidents are more devastating than rear-end passenger car crashes because the force of the impact is greater due to the size and weight of the truck; therefore, you should be aware of more useful information about rear-end truck accidents in Kansas City; just visit our website.
What are some of the reasons why trucks fail to brake in accidents in Kansas City, MO?
The most common causes of rear-end truck accidents can be attributed to not taking preventative measures to avoid the accidents. Natural causes such as weather conditions, low visibility, unexpected car or truck driver fails, etc., are not avoidable. However, the most common reasons when a truck fails to brake in an accident in Kansas City, MO, are;
- Tailgating: Driving too closely or not following lane rules by changing lanes without signaling are the prime causes of rear-end accidents in tailgating. The risk of failure to apply brakes at the right moment is high in tailgating.
- Driving while fatigued or drowsy: The regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) require trucking companies to ensure the service hours of their drivers do not exceed 10 hours a day. The purpose is most rear-end accidents happen due to drowsiness or fatigue of the drivers.
- Multitasking while driving: Using a phone while driving or trying to do many things at a time can distract the truck driver from the road, and other vehicles are rear-ended by a semi-truck or due to semi truck failure.
- Mechanical faults in the truck: Mechanical errors and problems in the truck engine or brakes can make it difficult to stop the vehicle at the right time. Rear-ended truck collisions where the crash happened due to mechanical fault are the most dangerous type of truck rear-ended accidents. It’s because, in this type of collision, not only damage to the vehicle happens due to the rear end of a truck, but the passing-by cars also sustain a hit as collateral damage.
- Reckless driving or inexperienced drivers — teenagers, old people, people with low vision, etc.
- Drunkard driving: Intoxication causes 10% of all truck rear-ended collisions with cars and other vehicles. Alcohol reduces the sense of judgment in drivers about when to apply a brake.
Rear-end accidents involving trucks are more dangerous than other types of accidents
Rear-end accidents are the most dangerous type among all other types of traffic accidents because;
- Weight of the truck: The weight of a truck varies from 20,000 to 80,000 pounds – 15 times more than an average car. When a commercial truck rear ended me a car, the impact is paramount compared to when a car rear ends semi truck. The impact is devastating for a car because of the weight of the truck – capable of crushing the vehicle or doing substantial damage to people inside it.
- The force of the crash: The crash force of the rear end of a truck is 20 times greater than a car-to-car crash. In many cases, when a truck rear ended a car, the passengers inside are instantly expired or receive fatal injuries.
What to Do After a Rear-End Truck Accident in Kansas City, Missouri?
The first thing to do after a rear-end truck accident in Kansas City is to seek medical support. An estimation of your injuries and their long-term impact can help you determine whether you should pursue a lawsuit. That said, the best approach is to always consult a personal injury attorney and not make a hasty decision with the insurance company’s offer. An initial consultation with a personal injury attorney is always free. The injury lawyer weighs the merits and success rate of your case. There are always more than one ways to claim damages for a rear-end truck accident. Essential compensations that you can claim in a rear-end truck accident are;
- Immediate medical expenses for physical injuries
- Long-term medical expenses for future treatments
- Emotional distress
- Implications on your job and future monetary prospects if you have suffered a disability due to the accident
- Psychological impact of the accident on your mental health
- Depression
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety and mental agony
- Any other damages that the court sees fit
- Cost of suit
Contact our injury lawyers to discuss the scope of your compensation claim. Many people are unaware of the various types of compensation they can claim for a vehicle-related injury. Moreover, the personal injury attorney can also facilitate you with obtaining and analyzing the logbook of the truck driver to establish the liability of the “at-fault” party to improve your chances of winning the compensation you deserve.
Bottom Line
In Kansas City, rear-end truck accidents can be more fatalist than any other type of traffic accident. It is because commercial trucks are heavier than average cars and the crash force of a truck-to-car rear-end hit is far greater than a car-to-car collision. Some main reasons for rear-ended accidents are tailgating, distracted driving, drunkard driving, trying to multitask, inexperienced drivers, etc. If you have sustained a rear-end truck injury, you should have a free initial consultation with an injury lawyer to discuss the scope of the compensation you can claim in a lawsuit.
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