Q: I've read that commercial truck accidents can result in serious injuries. What is a "commercial truck"?
A: A commercial truck is a vehicle used in the course of business and/or for the transport of commercial goods. Examples are eighteen-wheeler tractor trailers, tanker trucks, delivery vehicles, and other large freight trucks.

Q: Why is a traffic accident involving a commercial truck more likely to cause injury than one involving passenger cars?
A: A typical fully-loaded large commercial truck can weigh 80,000 pounds or more, while an average passenger automobile weighs approximately 3,000 pounds. Due to this size disparity, and the basic laws of physics, any collision between a commercial truck and another vehicle is likely to result in serious, even fatal, injuries.

Q: What are the most common factors in collisions between commercial trucks and automobiles?
A: Generally speaking, these accidents are caused by a combination of a truck's characteristics and performance capabilities(including limits associated with acceleration, braking, and visibility) and car drivers' ignorance as to those characteristics.

Q: I was injured in a crash where a truck driver was at fault. Can I receive money for time I missed at work?
A: Yes. Your recovery in a personal injury action can include payment for income lost through missed work, and compensation for any loss of earning capacity resulting from the accident.

Q: My daughter's car collided with a truck that was carrying a hazardous liquid, and she suffered respiratory problems. Can we sue the shipper of the chemicals as well as the truck driver?
A: In limited circumstances, the shipper of such hazardous materials can be held legally responsible if injuries resulted from the type of cargo on the truck, especially if the shipper failed to advise the driver or the trucking company of the hazardous nature of material contained in the freight.