There are two scenarios that separate tractor-trailer rear-end crashes, and that is whether the big rig is doing the rear-ending or is getting rear-ended. However, in both cases, the occupants of the other vehicle are at a great disadvantage.
Driver of Pickup Dies in Collision with Tractor Trailer in Camden
The 72-year-old driver of a pickup truck died when he struck the rear-end of a tractor-trailer on Thursday, May 7, 2020. According to authorities, the accident happened on Interstate 676 in Camden near mile marker 2.2.
Traffic began to slow in the northbound lanes, and the pickup truck driver was unable to stop in time. The driver was later pronounced dead, and so far no charges have been filed in the incident.
Dangers of Tractor Trailers
A tractor-trailer weighs a lot, around 80,000 lbs when fully loaded, and this means it can’t stop the same as a typical passenger car. Because of this, when traffic is slowing, a tractor-trailer sometimes is unable to stop and ends up hitting the car in front of them.
Of course, this can be devastating for the occupants of the car that is easily outweighed by 75,000 lbs or so. In other cases, a vehicle rear-ends a tractor-trailer, and once again, the smaller car is going to take the brunt of the crash.
Tractor-trailers are required by federal law to have a “Mansfield bar” on the rear of the truck to keep cars from sliding under the trailer and decapitating those inside the car. It was named after the famous actress Jane Mansfield who died when her car rear-ended a truck in a dense fog.
This illustrates how dangerous it is for any vehicle to rear-end a tractor-trailer, and even with the Mansfield bar in place, the other car still takes the majority of the damage.
Tractor-Trailer Accident Injuries
Occupants of a vehicle that rear-ends a tractor-trailer are at risk for certain types of serious injuries, an at the Pearce Law Firm, Personal Injury and Accident Lawyers, P.C., we understand how each accident and injury is different. We are experienced in all types of injuries, and we reject the idea that one-size-fits-all when it comes to making a personal injury claim. We know that the type of injury can make a big difference in the needs of the victim, and we tailor our case to fit those needs.
Some of the common injuries that we’ve seen over the years in tractor-trailer rear-end crashes, are:
- Blunt Force Trauma
- Crush Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Thoracic Spine Injuries
- Nerve Damage
- Organ Damage
- Compound Fractures
Contact a South Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer.
After an accident involving a serious injury, contact a South Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer such as Edith Pearce. Unlike the huge firms with dozens of attorneys and many different attorneys handling different aspects of your case, Edith Pearce is personally involved in every case that we handle. She genuinely cares about her clients and you will not be treated like just another case or file.