Commercial vehicle collisions face different legal hurdles than passenger vehicle collisions. Research from the U.S. Department of Transportation states that most injuries and deaths in commercial truck crashes are passenger vehicle occupants. Additionally, urban and suburban roadways are increasingly becoming the place where major commercial truck accident injuries and deaths occur—according to the U.S. Department of Transportation data, 51% of deaths in large truck crashes occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways.
See also: 10 most dangerous states to drive in“There are many differences between a car accident and a commercial vehicle accident,” said Kevin Johnson, associate attorney at Austin, Texas-based personal injury firm Justinian & Associates and an expert in truck accident law. “For one, you're dealing with a much bigger vehicle. And, you're dealing potentially with multiple entities that are responsible for that vehicle, as well as a driver that has professional driving rules that he should be following. These differences can make resolving a commercial truck accident much more complex and time-consuming.”
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Lawsuits are a top industry concern. In the American Transportation Research Institute's (ATRI) 17th annual Top Industry Issues Report lawsuit abuse reform ranked No. 4 among those surveyed.
Johnson has six tips for those who have been in an accident with a commercial truck. Start reading the list here.