When you merge onto a California freeway, you are entering a world of giants. Massive commercial trucks and buses, weighing tens of thousands of pounds, are a constant presence. While most operate safely, the sheer physics involved means that when something goes wrong, the consequences are catastrophic, especially for the occupants of a standard passenger car.

This isn’t just an anecdotal observation; it’s a stark reality backed by federal data. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) meticulously tracks these incidents, and their official Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts report paints a sobering picture of the risks we all face on the road. Understanding this data reveals why these accidents are so devastating and why handling the resulting legal claims requires specialized expertise.

The Facts Behind the Devastation

The government’s statistics are more than just numbers; they tell a story of immense force and tragic outcomes.

• Fatalities Are Disproportionate: In fatal crashes involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle, the overwhelming majority of those killed—often over 95%—are the occupants of the smaller car. The massive size and weight discrepancy creates a safety mismatch that passenger vehicles simply cannot overcome.
• Braking Distance is a Critical Factor: A loaded tractor-trailer can take 20-40% farther to stop than a car. This means a truck driver must have a much greater level of foresight and must maintain a significantly larger following distance. A moment of distraction or a miscalculation of speed can eliminate their ability to stop in time to prevent a collision.
• Driver Fatigue is a Silent Killer: While regulations limit driving hours, the economic pressures on drivers are immense. The FMCSA data consistently shows that driver fatigue and other human factors are a leading cause of these crashes.

When one of these factors leads to a crash, the legal case is immediately more complex than a standard car accident. You are no longer dealing with just another driver and their insurance; you are facing a large corporation, its team of lawyers, and their aggressive defense strategies.

Why You Need a Specialized Truck and Bus Accident Attorney

Handling a commercial vehicle case requires a deep understanding of federal regulations, corporate structures, and unique types of evidence.

1. Navigating Complex Liability: Is the driver at fault? What about the trucking company that hired them? Or the maintenance provider who serviced the brakes? In a truck accident or bus accident, multiple parties can be held liable, and identifying all of them is crucial for securing full compensation.
2. Preserving Critical Evidence: Large trucking and bus companies are required to maintain detailed records, including driver logs, inspection reports, and data from the vehicle’s “black box” (EDR). This evidence is vital, but companies and their insurers will not volunteer it. We act immediately to legally compel them to preserve and turn over this information before it can be lost or destroyed.
3. Fighting for Catastrophic and Wrongful Death Damages: The injuries resulting from these crashes are often severe, leading to permanent disability or death. We work with medical and economic experts to calculate the full, lifelong cost of a traumatic brain injury or other catastrophic harm. In the most tragic cases, we compassionately guide families through the process of filing a wrongful death claim to secure their family’s future.

The statistics prove that large truck and bus accidents are in a category of their own. If you or a family member has been a victim, you need a law firm that understands the unique challenges of these complex personal injury cases.

Contact Manoukian Law for a free and confidential consultation to learn how we can stand up to these large corporations on your behalf.