A rear-end truck accident occurs when a large commercial truck hits the back of the vehicle in front of it. These accidents can be very serious and cause extensive damage and injuries.
Rear-end truck accidents are usually caused by the driver not paying attention, driving too fast, or following the car in front too closely. Big trucks need more time and space to stop than regular passenger vehicles. If a trucker is distracted or going too fast, they cannot slow down or stop in time to avoid hitting the vehicle ahead.
What Makes Rear-End Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
There are a few reasons why rear-end truck accidents tend to be so severe:
Size and Weight of Trucks
When something heavy rear-ends a much lighter vehicle, the results are often catastrophic. The smaller vehicle can be crushed, mangled, or even pushed into oncoming traffic. Passenger vehicle occupants usually bear the brunt of the impact and suffer the worst injuries.
High Speeds
Rear-end truck accidents also happen at high speeds, especially on highways. The faster a truck goes, the longer it takes to slow down and stop. A loaded tractor-trailer traveling at 65 mph can take the length of nearly two football fields to come to a complete stop after the brakes are applied.
If a truck driver doesn't brake soon enough, the truck can crash into the back of slowed or stopped traffic at full speed. The force of a high-speed rear-end impact can cause devastating damage and injuries or even death.
Override/Underride Accidents
Another major danger of rear-end truck collisions is the risk of override or underride accidents. This is when a smaller passenger vehicle slides underneath the back or side of a large truck in a crash. The top of the car can be sheared off or crushed, often killing or catastrophically injuring those inside.
Underride guards, the metal bars hanging from the backs of most trailers, are supposed to prevent cars from sliding underneath in a crash. But these guards often fail, even at low speeds, allowing vehicles to go under the trailer, with deadly results.
What are the Common Injuries in Rear-End Truck Accidents?
Sadly, many people do not survive being rear-ended by a large truck. Those who survive often suffer severe, life-changing injuries such as:
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
Crush injuries
Amputations and loss of limbs
Internal injuries and organ damage
Broken bones and fractures
Neck and back injuries
Burns, cuts, and lacerations
Survivors of rear-end truck crashes often need extensive medical treatment, surgeries, rehabilitation, and lifelong care. Medical bills can easily reach hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars over a lifetime. Many victims are left permanently disabled and cannot work or live independently.
What Causes Rear-End Truck Accidents?
Most rear-end truck accidents occur due to negligence by the truck driver or trucking company. Some of the most common factors include:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a leading cause of all types of auto accidents, and rear-end truck crashes are no exception. Truck drivers who take their eyes off the road to text, use dispatch devices, fiddle with the radio, eat, or engage in other distractions are much more likely to rear-end vehicles.
Texting is especially dangerous. Looking down at a phone for just 5 seconds while traveling at 55 mph is like driving the length of a football field blindfolded.
Fatigued/Drowsy Driving
Truck driver fatigue is another major problem. Truckers often work long hours and drive overnight when drowsiness naturally peaks. Truckers frequently violate the FMCSA's limits on driving hours per day and week.
Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. A tired trucker is less attentive, has slower reaction times, and is more likely to fall asleep at the wheel, which increases the risk of rear-end collisions.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving
Speeding makes it much harder for truck drivers to slow down and stop in time to avoid rear-ending someone. Excess speed also increases the severity of impact and injuries when a crash does occur.
Aggressive driving behaviors like tailgating (following too closely), erratic lane changes, and road rage also contribute to many rear-end truck accidents. A fully loaded truck needs 20-40% more stopping distance than a car. Truckers who don't maintain enough following distance can easily rear-end vehicles that slow down or stop unexpectedly.
Drunk/Drugged Driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription and over-the-counter medications is extremely dangerous for anyone, especially truck drivers operating 80,000-pound vehicles. Drunk and drugged driving impairs judgment, concentration, coordination, reaction time, and other skills needed to drive safely. Impaired truckers are much more likely to cause rear-end collisions and other accidents.
Poor Truck Maintenance
Trucking companies and truck owners are responsible for keeping their vehicles in safe working condition. This includes regularly inspecting and maintaining critical safety equipment like brakes, tires, lights, etc.
When trucks aren't properly maintained, vital parts and systems can fail and cause a rear end accident. For example, if a truck's brakes fail, the driver cannot stop in time to avoid rear-ending someone. Worn-out tires can blow out and cause a driver to lose control and crash. Broken taillights make it harder for other drivers to tell when a truck is stopping.
How Much Compensation Can You Get for a Rear-End Truck Accident?
If you've suffered injuries in a rear-end truck accident that wasn't your fault, you may deserve compensation for damages such as:
Medical Expenses (Past and Future)
If you've suffered injuries in a rear-end truck crash, you may be facing a lot of medical bills piling up. These can include things like:
Ambulance rides
Emergency room visits
Hospital stays
Surgeries and other medical procedures
Doctor's appointments
Prescription medications
Medical equipment like crutches, wheelchairs, etc.
Physical therapy and rehabilitation
Mental health counseling
In-home care services
You may also need ongoing medical treatment for your injuries far into the future. A successful truck accident claim can help cover all of these past and future expenses. Your lawyer will work with medical experts to estimate the total cost of your medical needs so you don't get stuck paying out of pocket.
Lost Income and Reduced Earning Capacity
Rear-end truck accident injuries can put you out of work for weeks, months, or even permanently. You can recover compensation for the paychecks you've missed, and the income you may have earned in the future had the accident not happened.
This is especially important if your injuries result in permanent disabilities that impact your ability to work and earn a living. For example, if you can no longer do the same job you did before the accident or only work part-time hours, you can claim the difference in your earning capacity as part of your damages.
Property Damage
Suppose your vehicle or any other personal property was damaged or destroyed in the rear-end truck crash. In that case, you can recover compensation to repair or replace those items. This includes things like:
Vehicle repairs or replacement
Rental car expenses
Damaged phones, laptops, clothing, etc.
Damaged or destroyed cargo
Your truck accident lawyer can help you document all of your property losses and include them in your truck accident claim.
Pain and Suffering
Not all injuries are physical. Rear-end truck accidents can cause severe physical pain and emotional suffering that deserve compensation. Some examples of pain and suffering damages include:
Physical pain from injuries
Emotional distress, anxiety, depression, PTSD
Sleep loss
Loss of appetite
Mood swings and irritability
Loss of enjoyment of hobbies and activities
Inability to maintain relationships
Cognitive changes and memory loss
These damages can be harder to quantify than economic losses like medical bills and lost income, but they are just as real and important. An experienced truck accident lawyer knows how to build a strong case and fight for the pain and suffering compensation you deserve.
Scarring and Disfigurement
Some rear-end truck accident injuries result in permanent scarring, disfigurement, or other changes in physical appearance. This can include things like:
Facial scars and disfigurement
Burn scars
Amputation and loss of limbs
Paralysis
Skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries
These types of injuries can be emotionally devastating and impact every area of a person's life. You can recover compensation for the physical and emotional impact of scarring and disfigurement, including the cost of any reconstructive surgeries or other treatments needed to address physical changes.
Disability and Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Catastrophic rear-end truck accident injuries can result in permanent disabilities and profound changes in quality and enjoyment of life.
For example:
A spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis and the need to use a wheelchair
A traumatic brain injury causing permanent cognitive impairment, personality changes, and inability to live independently
Crush injuries resulting in the inability to walk, drive, or perform other basic life activities
Severe burns covering large portions of the body and requiring extensive, lifelong treatment
These types of profound, life-changing injuries deserve significant compensation. You can recover damages for things like:
Costs of making a home wheelchair accessible
Costs of lifelong in-home care
Diminished quality of life
Inability to participate in hobbies and activities you once enjoyed
Strained relationships with family and friends
Social isolation and withdrawal
No money can undo these losses, but a successful truck accident claim can provide vital resources and support to help you adapt and live the fullest life possible.
Wrongful Death Damages
Tragically, many people do not survive being rear-ended by a large commercial truck. If you have lost a loved one in a fatal rear-end truck crash, you can file a wrongful death claim to recover damages such as:
Burial/funeral expenses
Medical bills incurred before death
Lost income and benefits the deceased might have earned
Loss of care, companionship, guidance, and support
Mental anguish and emotional suffering of surviving family
Lost inheritance
No amount of compensation can fill the void left by a loved one's unexpected death. However, a wrongful death claim can hold the at-fault parties accountable and provide much-needed support for grieving families. An experienced truck accident lawyer can guide you through the process with compassion and fight for the justice your loved one deserves.
The exact amount of compensation you may receive will depend on many factors, including the severity of your injuries, the extent of your losses, and the strength of your case. An experienced truck accident lawyer can evaluate your case and give you a better idea of what your claim may be worth.
Statute of Limitations for Rear-End Truck Accident Lawsuits
It's important to be aware that you have limited time to file a lawsuit after a rear-end truck accident. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations.
In most places, the statute of limitations is between one and three years from the day of the accident. Some states have different deadlines for personal injury claims and property damage claims.
If you miss the statute of limitations and try to file a lawsuit after the deadline, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case. That's why it's important to talk to a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after a crash to protect your rights and potential claims.
Get Help from a Rear-End Truck Accident Lawyer
Rear-end truck accidents often result in devastating injuries, staggering financial losses, and immense pain and suffering for victims and their families. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in one of these crashes, don't face the trucking company and their insurers alone.
An experienced Austin truck accident attorney can fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve. While no amount of money can erase what happened, a successful claim can provide vital resources to help you rebuild your life.
Most truck accident lawyers offer free consultations, so there's no risk or obligation to reach out and learn about your rights and options.
