Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran
Published on: March 17, 2025
The type of vehicle you are involved in a motor vehicle accident with can make a big difference in both the extent of injury and what you can legally do. Truck and car risks are entirely different. Company truck crashes tend to have more deadly effects based on size and weight.
In 2021 alone, 5,904 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes. An 18% increase from 2020, based on the latest USA large truck and bus crash facts from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Whether you are facing the aftermath of a devastating truck collision or attempting to understand the complexities of an automobile accident claim, understanding these key differences can assist you in protecting your rights and battling for fair compensation. This comprehensive guide explains the considerable differences in these accidents and how having experienced accident claims lawyers on your side can make a world of difference in your recovery journey.
Key Differences in Accident Causes
Causal and Contributory Factors to Accidents
Although both truck and car crashes can be blamed on similar causes like bad weather and lack of attention on the road, truck crashes usually involve special conditions:
Truck Accidents
- Driver fatigue due to long hours on the road (despite hours-of-service regulations)
- Improper cargo loading or securement
- Inadequate truck maintenance
- Pressure from employers to meet delivery deadlines
- Limited maneuverability and significant blind spots
Car Accidents
- Distracted driving (cell and text)
- Impaired driving (alcohol)
- Speeding and irresponsible behavior
- Inexperienced drivers
- Vehicle maintenance problems
It is important to know these different patterns of causation when talking to lawyers who deal with all car accident or truck collision claims because it dictates investigation strategy and liability determination.
Severity of Injuries and Damages
Compared to car crashes, truck crashes expose individuals to dramatically increased risks of injury.
Truck Accidents
- Higher fatality rates
- More catastrophic injuries (traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures)
- Greater property damage
- Increased likelihood of multi-vehicle pileups
Car Accidents
- Less severe injuries overall (yet still possibly severe)
- More localized property destruction
- Shorter recovery times and average medical expenses
Most fatalities in large truck crashes are occupants of passenger vehicles, according to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This sobering statistic shows that there is a difference in protection between passenger vehicles and large trucks.
Complexity of Liability
Truck Accidents
- Multiple potentially responsible parties (driver, trucking company, maintenance contractor, cargo loader)
- Big corporation legal teams and deep-pocketed insurers
- Intricate web of federal and state legislation
- Technical proof, including electronic logging equipment and black box information
Car Accidents
- Generally, fewer liable parties (typically limited to the drivers involved)
- More straightforward insurance claims process
- Less complex investigation requirements
- More accessible evidence gathering
The best auto accident attorneys are familiar with these complexities of liability and are equipped to navigate them to protect your interests.
Regulatory Differences
Truck Accidents
- Governed by federal legislation by the FMCSA
- Governed by individual state truck codes
- Need to know commercial driver licensing requirements
- Involve interstate commerce legislation
Car Accidents
- Primarily subject to control by insurance legislation and state road acts
- Less Regulatory Complexity
- Reduced claims processing time
Insurance Coverage Distinctions
Truck Accidents
- Business policies with higher coverage amounts (typically $750,000 to $1 million minimum
- There can be several policies
- Additional complicated provisions and exclusions
- Hostile insurance defense teams
Car Accidents
- Lower individual policy limits (usually $25,000 to $100,000 in most states)
- Simplification of coverage determination
- Fewer parties in the claims process
Comparative Analysis: Truck Accident vs Car Accident Risks
| Factor | Truck Accidents | Car Accidents |
|---|
| Average Vehicle Weight | 80,000 lbs (fully loaded) | 3,000-4,000 lbs |
|---|
| Stopping Distance | 20-40% longer | Shorter |
|---|
| Fatality Risk | Significantly higher for passenger vehicle occupants | More evenly distributed |
|---|
| Average Settlement Value | $73,000-$1,000,000+ | $15,000-$75,000 |
|---|
| Investigation Time | Weeks to months | Days to weeks |
|---|
| Evidence Complexity | High (ECM data, logbooks, company records) | Moderate |
|---|
| Michigan No-Fault Implications | Modified by commercial insurance | Standard application |
|---|
Who is most at risk in these collisions
In a truck accident vs a car accident hazard, certain populations are placed in higher danger:
The Most Vulnerable in Truck Accidents:
- Passenger vehicle occupants (97% of fatalities in two-vehicle crashes involving a truck and a car)
- Motorcyclists
- Pedestrians and cyclists
- Occupants of smaller vehicles
The Most Vulnerable Road Accidents
- Teenagers and older persons
- Pedestrians and cyclists
- Residents of older cars without sophisticated safety equipment
- Unrestrained passengers
Legal challenges in truck accident cases
Accident Investigation Techniques
Truck crashes require special investigative techniques:
- Securing the truck electronic control module (ECM) information
- Monitoring hours-of-service compliance and drivers’ logs
- Verifying Maintenance History and Inspection Records
- Evaluation of truck company safety policies and violation history
- Rebuilding with qualified experts
The best accident lawyers in Michigan are familiar with these investigation requirements and are quickly able to mobilize resources before that crucial proof is gone.
Identifying Parties Involved
Unlike typical car accidents, truck accidents often involve numerous possible liable parties:
- The truck driver
- Carrier Company or Trucking
- The car manufacturer
- Maintenance providers
- Cargo loaders and shippers
- Parts manufacturers
- Government agencies with jurisdiction over roads
Determining all responsible parties involves knowing the intricate relationships involved in the commercial transportation business, a thing that seasoned accident claim attorneys are expertly familiar with.
Regulation Bargaining
Successful trucking accident claims require a comprehensive understanding of the following:
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
- State commercial vehicle codes
- Department of Transportation requirements
- Industry standards and practices
These are sometimes used to set the criteria for establishing negligence and liability in truck accident lawsuits.
Collaboration with Insurance Companies
Truck insurance firms possess advanced defense mechanisms:
- Rapid deployment of incident investigation teams to the site
- First settlement propositions that can shortchange your claim
- Attempts to blame other people
- Disputes regarding injury causation and severity
It is important to know how to choose the best truck accident attorney in easy steps to help you outsmart these practices and protect your rights.
Legal strategies for car accident claims
Fault finding
While seeming less complicated than accidents involving trucks, fault determination in auto crashes still entails:
- Thorough scene investigation
- Witness statements
- Analysis of vehicle damage
- Review of police reports
- Possible accident reconstruction
These methods are used by the best car accident attorneys to establish clear liability despite complex circumstances.
Handle Insurance Claims
Successful auto accident claims methods are:
- Clinical documentation of all injuries and damages
- Insurance adjusters’ strategic communication
- Actual and future damages definition
- Understanding Michigan’s reformed no-fault car insurance
- Compensation Maximization Strategies by negotiation
Pursuing Compensation
Damages in motor vehicle accident claims normally include:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Rehabilitation costs
Potential punitive damages in cases of gross negligence
Why Hiring An Experienced Accident Lawyer Matters
Regardless of whether you are dealing with a ghastly truck collision or a serious car collision, having experts provide legal representation is important:
Facing insurance companies: Insurance companies hire adjusters and attorneys to represent them – you can hire your own.
Proper valuation of your claim: lawyers that help with car accidents have experience with the total value of damages and also how to proceed with documenting them.
Special experts availability: From medical experts to experts in accident reconstruction, Michigan’s top accident attorneys have access to pools of experts.
Restore priority: While you are concerned about recovery, your lawyer deals with legal and paperwork.
Highest compensation: Repeatedly, research demonstrates that represented parties are awarded far greater payoffs than unrepresented parties.
It is important to know how to choose a top truck accident lawyer in simple steps by first learning about the special skills required for your category of case.
Michigan-Relevant Factors
Michigan no-fault laws create special challenges for accident victims:
- Modified no-fault insurance system with recent legislative changes
- Catastrophic Claims Fund implications
- Mini-tort provisions for vehicle damage
- Threshold requirements for pain and suffering claims
Michigan’s top car accident attorneys are familiar with these law changes and can advise you on how they pertain to your particular situation.
Cochran Law as Your Power Representative
When you are faced with the aftermath of a severe truck or motor vehicle accident, your choice of attorney can be what leads to your recovery, physically and financially. Truck accident vs. car accident risks can be very different, but both require skilled and dedicated representation to get what you are entitled to.
Seek Justice for Your Truck or Car Accident Case
If you or someone you love has been involved in a truck or car accident in Michigan, get the legal representation you need. Speak with our compassionate, knowledgeable Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. attorneys.
We can review your case, explain the key differences between truck and car accident claims, and help you protect your rights throughout the legal process. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 1-866-MICH-LAW and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.
Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.