Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
A man from Southern California was killed in an accident involving the collision of a big rig with his car. The accident occurred on Highway 101, while the man was driving to work. Police reports show that the driver of the big rig stated he was slowing down with the flow of traffic when the car, a Mercedes Benz, cut in front of him. Without adequate time to stop, the big rig rear-ended the Mercedes, driving it to crash and killing the man inside.
Accidents involving large trucks such as this are often times fatal. The weight and size of the truck, averaging 80,000 lbs. and 70 feet long, places the car involved in the accident at an extreme disadvantage. According to the NHTSA, 5,000 people driving small cars are killed each year and another 140,000 are injured in big rig or truck accidents. On the other side of the equation, only 600 big rig drivers are killed each year in car accidents and 30,000 injured.
What should you do, in case you are involved in an accident with a truck or big-rig?
First of all, it’s important to remain calm. At a first impulse, you might feel the urge to abandon the place or move your car. Don’t do the first and avoid the second. This, of course, assuming you and the passengers are ok. Regardless of this, it’s a good idea to call the authorities. But be careful. When talking to any law enforcer, make sure you don’t admit any wrongdoing before a court determines fault. In addition, make sure you have the following before you leave the scene: the truck’s license plate and insurance information, the driver’s identification, any other relevant info regarding the company for which the driver works for.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a collision with a big rig, please call the Law Offices of Moseley Collins for advice and help.
Drive cautiously.