The aftermath of a car crash can range from a minor inconvenience to the deaths of every person involved. Hopefully, the people involved in the collision can walk away from the accident with only minor bumps and bruises. In an ideal world, the worst thing they would have to worry about is dealing with the insurance company. There are a lot of variables to factor into the equation that can predict the severity of the situation:
How fast were the cars going?
Two cars colliding in a school zone are going to have a much smaller impact than two cars that crash on a highway. The faster the car, the worse the crash.
Was the weather bad?
Heavy rain or hail will impact the vision of the driver and can also cause the cars to hydroplane. This makes it nearly impossible for the driver to regain control of his or her vehicle, and being out of control means that the driver is unable to swerve out of oncoming traffic.
Was one of the drivers intoxicated or sleep-deprived?
If a driver is in either one of these conditions, they will have a very slow reaction time and will struggle to maintain control of the vehicle that they are driving. Additionally, drunk drivers are also known for overcorrecting and causing fatal accidents that would otherwise never have happened.
What types of cars were being driven?
Two small cars are going to cause minimal damage if they collide. Compare this to a pickup truck hitting a small car; the truck will likely severely damage the car and maim the driver. The worst kind of matchup in a collision is between an eighteen-wheeler and a car. Eighteen wheelers are massive trucks, sometimes over ten times the size of the other cars on the road! Not only this, but some commercial trucks are used for carrying gasoline and other flammable chemicals; one crash can lead to a major fire.
The drivers of commercial trucks are also almost always operating under different conditions than regular drivers. They will often be on the road for eleven hours at a time, only stopping to sleep in a makeshift bed they have in the backseat. They have to go a certain distance in a certain amount of time or else they may be reprimanded by their bosses. These factors put a tremendous strain on truckers, and this strain may cause them to drive recklessly. If a trucker decides to hold off on going to sleep, skip a meal, or make careless choices regarding speed limits and turn signals, they can very easily kill other drivers on the road.
The Law Offices of Jeffrey R. Caffee is a firm that helps deal with the repercussions of a collision that was caused by the negligence of a truck driver. If you’ve been the victim of a severe crash that was due to the mistakes of a truck driver, get in contact with a lawyer that can help you get your medical expenses covered. Knowing these factors can help you make an informed decision as to whether you should get on the road, or stay in for the night!