Our Experienced FL Injury Lawyers Discuss the Dangers of Rear-End Truck Crashes and Your Legal Rights
Rear-end truck crashes can have serious physical and emotional repercussions for victims. Because commercial trucks are so much larger and heavier than other vehicles on the road, their impact in a crash can be potentially devastating. Even if you rear-end a truck rather than the other way around, the size difference between a semi-truck and your vehicle may cause severe injuries. 
Accident lawsuits involving truck accidents can be more complex than a typical personal injury lawsuit, which is why it’s important to choose a personal injury attorney with experience handling truck accident cases. You can trust your case to the dedicated truck accident lawyers at Spetsas Buist. We’ll help you understand the complexities of your case and how you can protect your rights after being injured in a rear-end truck accident.
Common Causes of Rear-End Truck Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were over 5,700 people killed and nearly 155,000 people injured in traffic crashes involving large trucks in 2021. There are many possible factors that can contribute to a rear-end truck accident. Some of the most common include the following:
- Weight. Semi-trucks are more than 26 times the weight of passenger vehicles, which weigh on average about 3,000 pounds. That weight causes a much greater force on impact and requires longer stopping distances to avoid rear-end accidents.
- Faulty brakes. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), nearly 30% of injury and fatal truck crashes are due to truck brake problems. Some companies don’t take brake maintenance seriously, despite federal regulations requiring regular maintenance and repair.
- Inadequate lighting. Poorly lit roads and/or defective truck lights can lead to rear-end accidents, especially if the driver isn’t attentive and doesn’t see vehicles stopped or slowing ahead.
- Impaired driving. Truck drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol have slower reaction times along with reduced concentration, decision-making abilities, and other driving skills. This increases the risk that a truck driver may rear-end another vehicle.
- Drowsy driving. There is often pressure for truck drivers to deliver loads quickly, so they may violate federal hours-of-service rules that dictate how many hours they can drive before taking a break. Sleep deprivation impairs reaction times and decision-making skills. The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) reported that “13 percent of drivers of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers were considered to have been fatigued at the time of their crash.”
- Reckless driving. Reckless behaviors such as speeding, running red lights, or changing lanes without properly checking for other vehicles can lead to rear-end accidents.
- Distracted driving. After a three-year study, the NHTSA and FMCSA found that approximately 11,000 truck crashes in the U.S. involved distractions that were “external to the truck cab.” Another study found that nearly 80% of truck crashes involved drivers who were inattentive in the three seconds before the crash occurred.
- Improper turns. Large trucks need more space and time to make turns, but drivers can miscalculate and make their turns too wide or too fast.
Common Injuries Sustained in Rear-End Truck Accidents
Depending on the type of accident and the speed of the vehicles involved, the large size and weight of semi-trucks in a crash have the potential to cause severe injuries and even death. Some of the most common injuries in rear-end truck accidents include the following:
- Head and brain injuries. Any crash can put you at risk of a head or brain injury. These types of injuries can be traumatic and cause temporary vision problems, headaches, and cognitive difficulties. You may also suffer a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Brain bleeding and skull fractures are also possible.
- Neck, back, and spine injuries. These types of injuries include whiplash, spinal cord damage, herniated discs, or more minor strains and sprains.
- Burns. Some truck accidents may cause minor burns, while more severe crashes may cause fatal or disfiguring burn injuries that may require skin grafts and other surgeries. You may suffer burns because you make contact with a hot surface or the truck is carrying chemicals that can ignite.
- Soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries aren’t as obvious as other types of injuries, and insurance companies may try to dismiss claims for them. However, they’re no less significant or painful. Soft tissue injuries can include sprains, strains, stress fractures, and contusions.
- Broken or fractured bones. Depending on the severity of the break, broken bones may require surgery and extensive healing time.
Recovering Potential Damages After Your Rear-End Truck Accident
If you’ve been injured in a rear-end truck accident and the truck driver or trucking company caused or contributed to the crash, you may be able to seek compensation. Possible types of compensation include the following:
- Economic damages. These include medical bills, lost wages, loss of future income, property damage, and future (anticipated) medical expenses.
- Non-economic damages. These include pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and/or loss of enjoyment of life.
How a FL Personal Injury Attorney Can Help Prove Your Case
At Spetsas Buist, we treat clients like family. We’ll help you manage the complex pieces of your rear-end truck accident case so you can avoid making potentially costly mistakes. We’ll gather evidence, talk to insurance companies on your behalf, and handle your lawsuit if you end up going to court. With that burden eased, you’ll be able to focus on your physical and emotional recovery.
