Can You Survive A Head-On Collision With An 18 Wheeler?
Sharing the road with large semi-trucks is scary, and accidents do occur. In 2021 alone, large trucks were involved in 112 fatal collisions statewide, with many more causing severe injuries. Given the confluence of major trucking routes crisscrossing the region, San Bernardino County sees a disproportionate share of these wrecks.
So, what are your chances of surviving a head-on impact with an 18-wheeler? Unfortunately, the odds are stacked heavily against passenger vehicles in truck collisions. An average car weighs around 4,000 pounds, while a fully loaded tractor-trailer can tip the scales at a staggering 80,000 pounds. When those two drastically mismatched forces collide, the results are often catastrophic.
Factors like the speed of the vehicles, the angle of impact, and whether the truck jackknifes can influence the severity of the crash. But in a direct, head-on collision, the massive weight and momentum of the big rig will almost always overwhelm a smaller vehicle. Car occupants frequently suffer devastating or fatal injuries, even at relatively low speeds.
Survival in these extreme circumstances often hinges on incremental differences—a few inches here or there, a slightly different direction of impact. Even at low speeds, say around 30-40 mph, a head-on collision with a big rig exerts brutal g-forces on the human body, enough to break bones and rupture internal organs. The forces are exponentially higher at highway speeds, making survival less likely.
All too often, the tragic outcome of a head-on truck collision is death or life-altering injury for passenger vehicle occupants. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, crushed limbs, severe burns from vehicle fires—these shattering wounds can utterly upend the victim’s world in a single instant.
Fighting for Justice and Compensation After a San Bernardino Head-on Truck Crash
After a catastrophic truck crash, survivors and families face a daunting new reality. Recovery may involve months of painful surgeries and grueling rehabilitation. Permanent disabilities, paraplegia, disfigurement, and impairment are common. The financial burden can be immense, with medical bills soaring into the millions while the victim is unable to work.
Amidst this turmoil, many injured people naturally turn to the trucking company and its insurers for help. They assume that in an accident clearly caused by the trucker; the company will step up and provide fair compensation. Unfortunately, that is rarely the case. The sad truth is that trucking companies and their insurance providers are focused on protecting their bottom line, not doing right by injured victims.
Despite clear negligence or wrongdoing by the truck driver, these companies may exploit every legal loophole to avoid liability. Their teams of high-priced truck accident attorneys may try to shift blame onto the victim, dispute the severity of the injuries, or use legal delays to pressure desperate families into accepting inadequate settlements.
This is where having an experienced San Bernardino truck accident lawyer in your corner can make all the difference. While you focus on recovering physically and emotionally, your attorney acts as a relentless advocate to pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.
A skilled truck accident lawyer will investigate the crash thoroughly, often uncovering crucial evidence of negligence:
- Hours of Service (HOS) violations showing the trucker was dangerously fatigued
- Inexperienced or poorly trained drivers
- Inadequate truck maintenance leading to equipment failures
- Unrealistic delivery schedules that encourage reckless driving
Your lawyer can also gather expert witnesses like accident reconstructionists and medical professionals to build an air-tight case. With a persuasive combination of evidence and legal strategy, your truck accident attorney can often compel the trucking company to deal fairly or face a bruising court battle.
For truck accident survivors in San Bernardino, the choice of attorney matters greatly. You need a truck accident lawyer who understands the complexities and nuances of truck accident litigation in your specific location. A locally-based truck accident attorney will be familiar with the roads, traffic patterns, and crash statistics in your area. They will have working relationships with regional law enforcement, medical providers, courts, and opposing firms. You need a truck accident attorney in San Bernardino at William D. Shapiro Law, Inc.
No Truck Accident Settlement Can Turn Back Time
The bitter reality for survivors is that no amount of money can reverse the damage done by a catastrophic truck crash. Financial compensation is crucial for paying bills and securing your future. But it cannot erase the trauma of the accident itself. It cannot bring back lost limbs, restore broken bodies, or revive deceased loved ones.
Survivors of head-on truck collisions often face a lifetime of physical pain and emotional anguish. Many endure chronic headaches, back pain, nerve damage, PTSD, depression, and other invisible disabilities. Marriages strain and break under pressure. The whole family suffers after a head-on truck accident.
While nothing can turn back the clock and undo the harm you’ve suffered, a successful injury claim can provide essential resources and some sense of justice.
No one walks away from a head-on collision with an 18-wheeler unscathed. But with the right allies and advocates, you can walk into a future where hope and healing are possible. It is a long, uncertain road—but you do not have to travel it alone. Reach out to a trusted truck accident lawyer in San Bernardino today to begin your journey to justice and recovery.
Contact Our San Bernardino Truck Accident Lawyers
No one walks away from a head-on collision with an 18-wheeler unscathed. But with the right allies and advocates, you can walk into a future where hope and healing are possible. It is a long, uncertain road—but you do not have to travel alone. Reach out to a trusted San Bernardino truck accident lawyer at our law firm today to begin your journey to justice and recovery.
Don’t let a truck driver or trucking company’s negligence go unchallenged. Contact William D. Shapiro Law, Inc. today by calling us at 909-890-1000 or complete our confidential contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. Remember, you don’t have to face this difficult time alone—trust the dedicated professionals at William D. Shapiro Law, Inc., to help you on the road to recovery.
William Shapiro has handled catastrophic injury/wrongful death actions for over 4 decades obtaining numerous seven and eight-figure verdicts and settlements. Honors include: 2022, 2016 and 2013 OCTLA “Top Gun” TLY; 2022 CAOC TLY Finalist; 2018 “Lifetime Achievement Award” Western State College of Law, 2021 & 2017 Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year; 2016 WSBCBA “TLY”; 2015 CAL-ABOTA “TLY”; 2014 “TLY” Consumer Attorneys of CAOIE; 2011 “Hall of Fame,” Western State College of Law; Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers; International Academy of Trial Lawyers; International Society of Barristers; Diplomat, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA); National Board of Trial Advocacy; specialist in Trial Advocacy, State Bar of California; “Best Lawyers in America” and “Tier 1 Best Law Firms” U.S. News; AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell; SuperLawyers; Past President of: San Bernardino/Riverside chapter ABOTA; San Bernardino County Bar Association; Consumer Attorneys of Inland Empire; The Joseph. B. Campbell American Inn of Court; Consumer Attorneys of California; IE ; National Sec of ABOTA, Adjunct professor, Western State College of Law. Learn more here.