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(314) 500-HURTTractor Trailers are massive, imposing vehicles. When they are on the road other drivers often go out of their way to
make sure they are as far from the vehicles as possible. Why is this? Tractor Trailers can be extremely destructive
in the event of an accident. They carry an immense amount of weight and the force and kinetic energy that is
involved in the movement of the vehicle can cause serious damages to smaller vehicles.
In this FAQ, Gary talks further about why tractor trailers can be so damaging in accidents. If you have any questions
about this FAQ, or have a current accident case that you need help with, call or contact our Personal Injury Lawyers in St. Louis now. We don’t charge any fees for our consultations,
and we don’t require any attorneys fees unless we win your claim. Contact our team now at 314-542-2222 or 618-272-2222.
The forces involved in truck crash cases are astounding. A tractor-trailer weighs typically between 40,000 and 70,000
pounds laden, and cars are between 3,000 and 7,000 pounds, and force equals mass times acceleration, so the force
involved with a tractor-trailer going down the highway, a 60,000-pound tractor-trailer hitting another car or having a
car glanced a side of it, it’s like swatting a fly.
So, if a car comes and hits the side of a tractor-trailer, it’s going to be almost no force, negligible force on the
part of the tractor-trailer. Differently, if a tractor-trailer crashes sideways into a car, then it is only going to
slow that tractor-trailer down, maybe one or two miles an hour, a very, very little force change for a tractor-trailer.
That’s why we have so many safety rules for tractor-trailers. That’s why there are commercial driver’s license, federal
and state regulations, regulations about speed, about how long they can drive before they have to rest, the equipment on
there, how often they have to inspect the equipment. There are a whole host of regulations that truckers have to abide
by.
I’ve represented truckers. I’ve just settled a case the other day for one, and I’ve been asked to represent them
numerous times, but when truck drivers or trucking companies violate the rules of the road and act unsafe and injure or
kill folks, we represent folks in those cases as well and we have, many times.
During the summer months, people are getting on the road for their summer vacations. You know, the three highest months
of incidents of truck crashes and car crashes are August, July and June. We talk about safety. I have videos on safety.
We have newsletters on safety, and so especially in driving in the summer months or with your family, drive defensively,
be careful of those truck drivers. They carry a lot of mass, they work long hours, and they work hard, and sometimes
they’re not attendant to what they should be doing.
If you have any questions about truck, the forces involved, the physics, truck law liability, anything about trucking
accidents, give me a call, Burger Law, Gary Burger is my name. I’m at 314-542-2222, or at 866-599-2222, and Illinois at
618-272-2222. Thank you.
Founder | Injury Attorney
Gary Burger has dedicated his career to standing up against bullies. The founder and principal attorney of Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer has helped hundreds of Missouri and Illinois individuals and families recover th …
Years of experience: 30 years
Location: St. Louis, MO
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