Every year, thousands of Americans die in car accidents involving large commercial semi trucks, weighing more than 10,000 lbs. Naturally, the size of these 18 wheeler trucks make the car accidents much more devastating than a collision between passenger vehicles, often resulting in death or permanent injury.

To give an estimate to these devastating car accidents, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that approximately one in 10 deaths result from collisions with semi trucks, with most deaths being from the passenger vehicles. In 2011 and 2012, the NHTSA estimated that 7,702 deaths occurred from car accidents involving semi-trucks, along with 192,000 injuries.

Most of the time the passenger vehicles are completely totaled, if not destroyed, and leave the people involved at least severely injured. These large 18 wheeler trucks not only weigh much more than passenger vehicles, but are much more durable and higher off the ground, making injury to the truck driver much less likely.

However, these semi-truck collisions are devastating regardless who is injured and how damaged the vehicles are. In a recent example from Texas, five people died in a car accident involving a semi-truck.

Overview of 18 Wheeler Accident Devastation

The semi-truck accident occurred in the city of Fort Worth and not only caused the five fatalities, and left 12 people injured; some of the fatality victims were good Samaritans who ended up caught in the fiery wreckage of the truck.

According to the police report, the devastation started with a car accident that occurred at 2:30 a.m., other drivers had stopped to assist.

Unfortunately, an 18 wheeler truck was also on route and crashed into the vehicles from the initial accident. The semi truck truck could not stop in time, colliding into several other cars and people; the entire car accident erupted into flames.

A policeman on the scene stated that it was most likely that the victims struck by the 18 wheeler truck were standing in the lane of traffic.

Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, with the fifth victim later dying in the hospital. Two others were hospitalized and are in critical condition, with ten others only suffering minor injuries; the truck driver was among the victims with less severe injuries.

While this was a devastating situation, it is a typical example of how widespread the damage from a car accident involving a semi-truck can be. However, there is always discrepancy in terms of who is to blame for the collision, and ultimately pay for the damages.

Proving Blame

Even though all drivers are required to follow the rules, there is an additional set of federal and state regulations for commercial motor carriers like 18 wheeler trucks. It is also important to note that these semi-trucks are drastically different in build compared to passenger vehicles, particularly with the engine and brake modules.

Unfortunately, most trucking companies are not particularly forthcoming in the investigation process of these trucking accidents. Oftentimes, the trucking companies are more concerned with protecting themselves from liability, rather than focus on the devastation it brought to the passenger driver. This is why hiring a car accident lawyer that has experience dealing with trucking companies can give you an edge in proving whose to blame.

Trucking companies are normally the first to know when a car accident happens because they either get notification from the truck driver or the police. These companies also have teams available to respond to a scene, to get a head start on the investigation, or simply start one of their own.

Either way, the trucking company has an advantage over passenger victims who are often left to bear the brunt of the car accident, or having to result to their own legal action to protect themselves.

Other times, trucking companies will offer quick truck accident settlements to the victims, before they understand the true nature and cost of the damages.

Legal experts encourage car accident victims who were involved in a semi truck crash to seek a specialized lawyer to assist in the process, in order to ensure the victim receives proper compensation.