The Unique Risks of a Commercial Vehicle Rear End Accident
The heartbeat of commerce and logistics can be felt in communities all over the world. It’s often invisible to us until we give it some thought. Try it yourself. What time do the various mail and package delivery carriers come? About how often does your local grocery store re-stock its shelves? How many commercial vehicles can you count on your commute? Observe the trucks and vans belonging to tradespeople or salespeople and the company cars wrapped with corporate logos. You might be surprised how much business goes on around you every day, all of it ordered, scheduled, and doing its best to run on time. One thing that will inevitably disrupt the regular flow of commercial activity in a community is a car accident involving a commercial vehicle. Rear end accidents are an especially high risk for these working vehicles. Today’s blog post will explore commercial vehicle rear end accidents.
The Special Risk Factors in a Commercial Vehicle Rear End Accident
“Commercial vehicle” is obviously a broad category which can fit basically any category of vehicle. It can mean anything from heavy construction equipment to a delivery scooter or bike. For the purposes of this article, we’ll be focusing on the heavier end of the spectrum. While not all of these commercial vehicles are purpose built for their work, such as mail delivery trucks or street cleaners, they’re often alike in their need for a large footprint in terms of size, weight, and cargo loading capacity. This creates several unique risks to smaller vehicles, which we’ll cover below.
Size and Weight
Try as we might, we can’t negotiate with physics. A vehicle that is larger and heavier will necessarily have several features which raise certain risk factors.
- Increased Stopping Distance – A larger stopping distance may lead to a commercial vehicle overrunning the vehicle in front of it, resulting in a commercial vehicle rear end accident. This has the potential to cause catastrophic damage to the vehicle and serious injury to its occupants.
- Difficulty Handling in Inclement Weather – A sudden swerve or loss of traction may endanger fellow motorists. Larger vehicles have higher centers of gravity and therefore may tip over more easily in high wind or slippery ice.
- Larger Blind Spots – While larger mirrors may be able to mitigate this to an extent, drivers of large commercial vehicles should still exercise serious vigilance to ensure no vehicle has gone unnoticed on their sides, or below their front bumper.
Cargo
Many everyday commercial vehicles are built to haul large amounts of cargo. This can mean anything from mail, to garbage, to construction or landscaping equipment. This can also create hazards.
- Trailers – Improperly secured trailers may become detached while in transit and threaten traffic behind the vehicle.
- Improperly Secured Cargo – Large machinery or other cargo may slide out of a truck bed and into traffic
Professional Duties
Many commercial vehicles are required to make sudden and frequent stops in order to conduct business. Many more drive at slower speeds to accommodate staff or in recognition of the danger they pose to traffic. This can unfortunately lead to commercial vehicle rear end accidents. Drivers should exercise the maximum caution when behind such a vehicle and be prepared to stop with little to no notice.
If You’ve Been Involved in a Commercial Vehicle Rear End Accident
- Call 911 – A police report will mean a hard record of your accident generated by an unbiased third-party source.
- Exchange Contact Details – Any drivers involved in the accident should exchange contact information along with insurance information.
- Take Pictures – Documenting the scene “as-is” in the immediate aftermath of the accident can be very useful to the relevant authorities.
- Collect Witness Statements – If any eyewitnesses are present at the scene of the accident, their testimony can prove invaluable. Collect their names and contact details if they seem cooperative.
How Malloy Law Can Help
If you or a loved one has been injured by the negligence of a commercial vehicle owner or operator, Malloy Law may be able to help. Our experienced personal injury attorney team will assess your case free of charge and plot a path to maximum recovery. Don’t take on corporate entities alone. Malloy Law advocates for private citizens against negligent companies. Contact us today and let’s win your case.