Canada’s extensive road network is ideal for long, leisurely, holiday road-trips and also for the transportation of goods across the country and to neighboring countries too.

Commercial vehicles are a common feature on Canadian highways. Enormous multi-wheeler trucks, with the capacity to carry extremely large and heavy goods/equipment can be spotted year-round. It’s important to note that commercial vehicles includes mass transportation vehicles like buses too.

When one of these vehicles is involved in an accident, obviously the damage done can be proportionately huge too. The sheer size and  weight of the vehicle, the nature and contents of the load it’s carrying and the fact that it’s difficult to maneuver make accidents involving commercial vehicles extremely hazardous.

However, accidents aren’t always “accidental.” They are caused by someone’s fault or negligence. The injured have a right to be compensated for their physical, financial and emotional losses.

If you or a dear one has been injured in an accident involving a commercial vehicle, contact an experienced Cornwall personal injury lawyer without delay. There are several complex legal, medical and insurance matters to be dealt with while seeking compensation in such cases. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer who has dealt with similar cases can provide the right advice and assistance.

What Are Commercial Vehicles?

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation defines commercial vehicles as a truck or highway tractor with a gross registered weight of more than 4500 kg. It may also be a bus with seating capacity of 10 or more passengers.

A wide variety of commercial vehicles are to be found on our roads, including postal vehicles, packaging and food trucks, animal transportation vehicles, livestock carriers, hazardous substance carriers, cranes, tow-trucks, recreational vehicles, pick-up trucks etc. The large size and bulk of these vehicles requires drivers to be highly-trained, experienced and skillful. In addition to the vehicle’s own weight, it may also carry a heavy load which makes it even more difficult to drive and maneuver.

Typical Accidents Involving Commercial Vehicles

As with any other type of motor-vehicle, commercial vehicles too get involved in similar accidents. Head-on collisions, side-swipes, rear-enders, T-boners, rollovers, etc.

There are some types of accidents that occur more frequently in larger vehicles resulting in more extensive damage:

• Air-brake failure
• Jack-knifing
• Rollover
• Uncoupling of trailers
• Loosening of load
• Tire blow-out
• Under-carriage part failure
• Falling debris from dump/trash trucks
• Pedestrian accidents in residential areas by garbage trucks
• Tankers carrying hazardous chemicals, inflammable substances may explode/catch fire
• Improperly secured cargo on flat-bed trucks
• Wide turn accidents when driver swings in the opposite direction to take a wider turn
• Blind spot accidents involving cyclists, motor-cyclists, pedestrians
• Lane changing accidents

Typical reasons for such accidents include driver fatigue, drug/alcohol/prescription-drug impairment, distraction, poor visibility, inexperience, improperly maintained vehicles etc.

There are several complications that may arise as a result of being injured in an accident involving a commercial vehicle. Trucking companies, drivers, networks etc are all involved in the operations and maintenance of vehicles. Hence it’s wise to seek guidance from an experienced Cornwall personal injury lawyer without delay.