Each time you get behind the wheel of your personal vehicle, you are sharing the roadway with large commercial vehicles. Semi trucks play an important role in helping to deliver consumer goods to retail locations across the country.

Driving on the same roads as semi trucks requires careful concentration and attention to detail. Any accidents that involve a semi truck have the potential to cause more damage to both you and your car than an accident involving another passenger vehicle. Large commercial trucks have the potential to produce a greater amount of personal damages in a collision, and here are some reasons why.

1. Size and Weight

One of the primary reasons a collision with a semi truck can have a potentially deadly outcome is because of the size and weight of these vehicles. A semi truck equipped with a trailer in tow can weigh several tons. This is significantly more than any passenger car or truck available today.

Your vehicle will not stand much of a chance at withstanding impact damage when being hit by a semi truck. Injuries that are caused as a result of the collision should be discussed with an attorney to determine if a personal injury lawsuit is warranted.

2. Cargo Type

Semi trucks are used to transport many different kinds of products across the country. This means that a semi truck you are sharing the road with will probably be loaded down with cargo. Some trucks are equipped to carry flammable or hazardous materials.

Being involved in a collision with a semi that has a hazardous or flammable load can increase the amount of damage that the accident causes. Your injuries could be amplified by the type of cargo being carried in a semi truck that you collide with, so it's best if you discuss the details of your accident with an experienced personal injury attorney before taking further action.

3. Drowsy Driving

A semi truck driver is only making money if his or her rig is on the road. The government has implemented minimum safety standards that limit the number of hours a driver can spend behind the wheel of a semi each day.

Unfortunately, many semi truck drivers only take the bare minimum in terms of sleep breaks in an effort to deliver their loads as quickly as possible. This need to be behind the wheel can create some drowsy drivers. If a sleepy semi truck driver drifts into your lane and clips your car, it will cause significantly more damage than if another passenger vehicle hit you in the same manner.

Seek compensation for the damages caused in your collision with a semi truck by filing a personal injury case.