The One You Don’t See Coming: Wellington Side-Impact Truck Accidents

While none of us like the thought of being in an accident, we take comfort in knowing that if we are, we will be protected. Airbags, roll cages and safety ratings all give us hope that when a crash occurs, we will be able to walk away.

But what about those who aren’t driving-and have no control in the event of a crash?

Side-impact crashes, often called t-bone accidents, are the second-most common type of Florida car accident-and these crashes are particularly deadly.

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Cars are designed with spaces called crumple zones, areas where a car will collapse to absorb force. Unfortunately, these zones are only in the front and back of the car. If a car is hit on its side, there is nothing to stop the force from going inside the vehicle-and into the people sitting there. As a result, Florida t-bone accidents result in higher injury and fatality rates for passengers riding in the backseat.

A few factors that increase your risk of being injured in a Wellington t-bone truck accident:

• Lack of safety features. Depending on the age and model of your car, you could be putting your passengers at a great risk of side-impact crashes. In addition to a lack of buffer space, rear seats often lack the airbags that protect those in the front seat.
• High speeds and heavy loads. Drivers are at risk of side-impact accidents from other small cars, but due to a semi’s speed and weight, the impact when hit by an 18-wheeler can be five times harder.
• Intersections. Many side-impact crashes occur at intersections, when drivers have trouble avoiding cross traffic. The most common causes are semi drivers running a red light, not braking soon enough, or colliding with a vehicle while turning.
• Nighttime driving. Driving at night increases the chances of any accident, and semi crashes are no exception. Both the car and truck’s driver are more likely to be tired, have slowed response times, and are less attentive to the road than during daylight hours.

Any experienced Wellington semi accident attorney have seen the destruction these accidents can cause. While vehicle manufacturers are at work to improve safety features on their cars, there are still plenty on the road that run the daily risk of collapsing in a Florida side-impact crash.

At Fetterman & Associates, we work to get you compensation for your injuries and the help you need after your devastating car accident. Call us today at (866) 865-1244 to get started on your free consultation.